FAA orders O’Hare flight cuts amid American, United turf war

The US Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to slash flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport this summer to prevent overscheduling and flight disruptions, further complicating a turf war between United Airlines Holdings Inc. and American Airlines Group Inc. at the busy hub. The agency said in the order, released Thursday, that it’s limiting total daily operations to 2,708 takeoffs and landings, almost 400 fewer than airlines had originally scheduled. The cap will be in place from May 17 through Oct. 24. [caption id="attachment_57296381" align="aligncenter" width="1645"] (Courtesy/Chicago O'Hare International Airport)[/caption] The agency said it had to act to avoid flight disruptions at O’Hare that would have reverberated across the US aviation system. Unrealistic schedules At O’Hare, “unrealistic schedules were set to dramatically exceed what they could handle,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement. The FAA’s action “will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier.” The regulator’s move comes as United and American, the two largest carriers at O’Hare, have been duking it out over gate access and market share, with both previously announcing plans to ramp up flights from the airport. United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby pitched President Donald Trump on a potential tie-up between the two carriers in late February — a move that would make the O’Hare matter moot but that’s already drawn backlash from consumer advocates, who argue a merger would increase fares and reduce competition, and some lawmakers. While Kirby’s considerations predate the Iran war, the conflict has brought the possibility of major shakeups in the aviation industry to the fore as airlines grapple with higher jet fuel prices. “We are reviewing the FAA order and will share additional information, including any next steps, as soon as our review is complete,” a United spokesperson said in a statement. O’Hare last year overtook Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the nation’s busiest according to total takeoffs and landings, the city of Chicago announced in January, citing preliminary data from the FAA. FAA sets guidelines The FAA met with the airlines throughout March to discuss the O’Hare flight reductions after determining that planned schedule increases would “exceed the airport’s capacity” during the summer 2026 season, which runs through late October. Daily operations were expected to surpass 3,080 takeoffs and landings on peak days, according to the agency. If left unchecked, the increase in flights would have overloaded the runways, terminals and air traffic control systems at O’Hare, according to the FAA. The regulator in March indicated it wanted to limit total daily operations at the airport to 2,608 takeoffs and landings, with flights also capped in 30-minute intervals throughout the day. The restriction was tighter than a prior agency recommendation to cap takeoffs and landings at 2,800 per day. The agency ultimately landed in the middle. According to the FAA’s order, United “expressed serious concerns” about the agency’s proposed cap and the way it was apportioning reductions at O’Hare. The carrier believed the regulator “arbitrarily and capriciously established the operating limitations,” the order said. American said in a statement that it’s “pleased to have secured a sufficient level of flights through the FAA’s process to operate a successful hub at O’Hare this summer and satisfy American’s strategic objectives.” The carrier added that the limits will help improve reliability and reduce disruptions. The FAA took similar action last year to restrict flights at Newark Liberty International Airport after a series of technology outages and air traffic controller shortages fueled a surge in delays and cancellations. Cargo Facts EMEA 2026 will take place April 28-30 in Brussels at the Marriott Hotel Grand Place. For more information and to register, visit CargoFactsEvents.com .

FAA orders O’Hare flight cuts amid American, United turf war

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