FAA Orders Chicago O’Hare Flight Cuts to Curb Summer Travel Delays

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Thursday ordered Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to cut a portion of its summer flights to reduce delays at one of the U.S.’ busiest airports.

The limits are being implemented as O’Hare prepared to host more than 3,000 flights on peak days this summer—an almost 15% increase over 2025 and a volume the FAA does not believe the airport can handle. Less than 60% of arrivals and departures at O’Hare were on time last summer.

The cuts will begin on May 17 and last through Oct. 24, covering the entire summer travel season. Approximately 300 flights will be removed from peak-day schedules, and the FAA said it is working with airlines to finalize the reductions.

The cuts will primarily target the busiest days of the week. The FAA expressed concern that O’Hare’s planned schedule would have exceeded the capacity of the airport’s infrastructure, specifically when it comes to Air Traffic Control (ATC) staffing and runway limits.

The ultimate goal, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is to make sure that those who book a ticket can feel confident that their flights will take off. 

“If you book a ticket, we want you and your family to have the certainty that you’ll fly without endless delays and cancellations,” said Duffy. “We successfully turned Newark Liberty International into the most on-time airport in the Tri-State Area by fixing telecoms issues at record speed and reducing overcapacity. Applying that same strategy at O’Hare—where unrealistic schedules were set to dramatically exceed what they could handle—will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier.”