The Federal Aviation Administration has proposed caps on daily takeoffs and landings at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport to head off a possible summer surge in delays and disruptions as two major carriers expand schedules.
The move comes amid a public spat between the hubs that serve O’Hare: American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has faulted United Airlines for what he called “reckless scheduling” that could create “gridlock,” while United CEO Scott Kirby — a former American executive — welcomed federal involvement, saying the Department of Transportation would “play dad and force us to share.”
FAA officials warned that planned growth from roughly 2,700 operations per day last summer to more than 3,000 this year could overtax runways, terminals and air traffic control. In February the agency floated a limit of about 2,800 daily operations; a March filing suggested cutting that to around 2,600. During meetings with carriers and the Chicago Department of Aviation, agency staff also discussed possible caps as low as 2,400.
Observers say O’Hare is unusual: it’s the busiest U.S. airport by takeoffs and landings and hosts two major global hubs in close proximity. “No other airport in the world is like this,” said Joe Schwieterman, a transportation professor at DePaul University, noting that American and United have been adding flights aggressively in a long-running fight for market share and gate access.
Some industry experts praised the FAA’s preemptive approach. William McGee, a former airline operations official now a senior fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, said regulators typically wait for widespread delays and cancellations before intervening and that this action is more forward-looking.
The FAA held meetings with airlines and city officials last month but has not adopted a final plan. Publicly, both American and United have signaled they could accept some reductions. Schwieterman suggested carriers might be willing to trim less popular routes — especially as fuel costs rise — but cautioned that unilateral cuts would disadvantage one carrier unless coordinated, a role the FAA could play.
The Chicago Department of Aviation, which operates O’Hare, has pushed back in filings, calling proposed limits “unwarranted” and “regressive.” The department says recent expansion has eased delays and increased capacity, and contends the airport can accommodate about 2,800 daily operations. It also noted that FAA staff discussed lower caps during internal meetings.
Travelers expressed mixed views. Regular United flyer Ferrari Benton said losing nonstop flights would be regrettable and preferred more staff and service instead, while Naperville resident Gary Smith said limits might ease congestion but would inconvenience some passengers.
The FAA’s proposal is an uncommon preemptive step to manage operations at a major U.S. airport, reflecting regulators’ concerns that an intense carrier competition could overwhelm infrastructure and air traffic control this summer.