FAA to cut flights at major US airport to reduce delays

Key Points:

• The FAA will reduce daily flight operations at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to 2,708 flights from May 17 to October 24, 2026, to prevent delays and cancellations amid airlines' plans to increase flights to 3,080 per day on peak summer days.
• O'Hare, the busiest U.S. airport by flight volume, saw only 60% of arrivals and departures on time during peak days in summer 2025, prompting the FAA to limit flight volumes by nearly 400 compared to last year.
• The FAA aims to improve efficiency by increasing air traffic controller staffing, speeding up controller training, optimizing airspace routes, and enhancing collaborative decision-making between the FAA, airlines, and airports.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized using strategies previously successful at Newark Liberty International Airport to reduce overcapacity and improve on-time performance at O'Hare.
• FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford highlighted safety as the top priority and thanked airlines for cooperating to establish a sustainable flight schedule that enhances reliability and safety for travelers.