Federal Officials Order Flight Cuts at Chicago O'Hare on Peak Days This Summer to Reduce Delays

The airport will cut hundreds of daily flights to reduce delays during peak travel months

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:28am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly stylized, geometric illustration depicting the grand scale and functional nature of an airport terminal, with sweeping lines, smooth gradients, and a sense of authority and efficiency.Federal officials step in to limit flights at Chicago's O'Hare Airport this summer, aiming to reduce widespread delays and disruptions for travelers.Chicago Today

Federal officials have ordered Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to cut around 300 flights per day on the busiest days this summer in an effort to reduce flight delays. The move comes as air traffic controllers deal with taxiway closures for construction projects and airlines have announced expansion plans that could lead to significant delays. The flight limits will take effect May 17 and last through October 24, with fewer cuts on slower days of the week.

Why it matters

O'Hare is one of the busiest airports in the U.S., and it already had one of the worst records for flight delays nationwide last year. The federal government stepped in to limit flights and prevent the airport from exceeding its capacity, which would have led to widespread delays and disruptions for travelers this summer.

The details

The federal government said both American and United announced expansion plans at O'Hare that could lead to significant delays this summer and limit the airfield's ability to handle the expected amount of traffic. As a result, the number of flights at the airport will be limited to a maximum of 2,708, which is still slightly higher than the 2,680 flights scheduled at the peak of last summer. On slower days of the week, fewer flights will have to be cut.

  • The flight limits will take effect on May 17 and last through October 24.
  • Last summer, the airport had a maximum of 2,680 flights scheduled on peak days.

The players

Sean Duffy

U.S. Transportation Secretary who announced the flight cuts at O'Hare.

American Airlines

One of the airlines that will have to cut flights at O'Hare, estimating no more than 40 arrivals and departures per day.

United Airlines

One of the airlines that will have to cut flights at O'Hare, with estimates of more than 200 arrivals and departures per day.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Airlines will go through the details of the order to figure out how many flights they have to cancel and then will notify customers affected by the cuts.

The takeaway

The federal government's intervention to limit flights at O'Hare this summer highlights the ongoing challenges of managing air traffic and preventing widespread delays, especially at the nation's busiest airports. The move aims to balance the needs of airlines, air traffic controllers, and travelers to ensure a smoother travel season.