The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to reduce flights at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) this summer, citing a sudden boost in schedules by airlines.
The FAA and major airlines at O’Hare will discuss schedule adjustments in a meeting on March 3. The schedule changes would affect peak flights between March 29 and October 25.
Both American Airlines and United Airlines have significantly increased their schedules out of O’Hare over the past several months, as carriers battle to claim the number one spot at the airport.
According to David Shepardson of Reuters, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told airlines yesterday that the agency was concerned of Chicago O’Hare’s ability to handle the increase in flights this summer.
The FAA states that Chicago is expanded to see over 3,080 daily operations on peak days this summer, an increase of more than 300 compared to last summer, noting that the increases “would stress the runway, terminal, and air traffic control systems.” The agency is looking to cap the number of daily operations at 2,800.
Starting this spring, American Airlines expects more than 500 daily departures out of Chicago, an increase of 30% relative to last year and would restore prepandemic levels of flying. The airline is solidifying the airport as its third largest hub.
United is also increasing mainline flights by 20% for the summer. The carrier expects to reach 750 flights per day this summer and will boast the largest schedule ever out of Chicago O’Hare.
American Airlines states that it “commends Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and the FAA for taking proactive action to ensure the operational integrity of the airfield and airspace in Chicago. The FAA now has the opportunity to achieve an improved customer experience for passengers traveling from, to, and through Chicago this summer.”
Featured image by the author.
