Federal officials ordered a reduction of approximately 300 daily flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. This mandate from the Department of Transportation and FAA is effective from May 17 through October 24.
The directive addresses a planned 14.9% increase in summer flight volume. Authorities cited air traffic control challenges and taxiway construction as the primary reasons for the intervention.
American Airlines and United Airlines must now scale back their previously announced expansion plans at the Chicago hub. American Airlines is currently identifying which flights to cancel to comply with the federal order.
The carrier stated the FAA directive will improve overall reliability for summer travelers. The measure aims to mitigate significant delays during the peak travel season.