Feds Order Flight Cuts at Chicago O'Hare to Ease Delays

Transportation Secretary says schedule was unrealistic and exceeded airport's capacity

Apr. 17, 2026 at 8:05pm

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Federal officials have ordered about 300 flights per day to be cut from the schedule at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on the busiest days this summer in an effort to reduce flight delays. The move comes as O'Hare already had one of the worst records for flight delays nationwide last year and airlines had announced expansion plans that could lead to significant delays this summer.

Why it matters

O'Hare is the busiest airport in the U.S., handling over 3,000 flights per day at peak times. The federal government stepped in to limit flights after determining the airport's capacity would be exceeded, leading to widespread delays and disruptions for travelers.

The details

The federal government is capping the maximum number of flights at O'Hare at 2,708 per day, slightly higher than the 2,680 flights scheduled at the peak last summer. Airlines will have to determine which flights to cancel, with American Airlines estimating it will have to cut no more than 40 arrivals and departures per day, while United may have to cut over 200.

  • The flight limits will take effect on May 17 and last through October 24.
  • Last summer, O'Hare had over 3,080 flights scheduled on peak days, a 14.9% increase from the prior summer.

The players

Sean Duffy

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

American Airlines

One of the major airlines operating at O'Hare that will have to cut flights under the federal order.

United Airlines

Another major airline at O'Hare that may have to cut over 200 flights per day under the federal order.

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What they’re saying

“If you book a ticket, we want you and your family to have the certainty that you'll fly without endless delays and cancellations.”

— Sean Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary

“We are grateful to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and their leadership teams for acting swiftly to ensure that Chicagoans and all consumers continue to benefit from sensible competition and to help minimize flight disruptions during the busy summer season.”

— American Airlines

“We appreciate that the government came up with a solution that makes sense for everyone who cares about O'Hare's success.”

— United Airlines

What’s next

Airlines will review the federal order and their schedules to determine which specific flights to cancel, and then notify affected travelers.

The takeaway

The federal government's intervention at O'Hare highlights the ongoing challenges of managing air traffic at the nation's busiest airports, as airlines continue to expand service while infrastructure struggles to keep up. This move aims to provide more reliability for travelers during the busy summer travel season.