Over 300 flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport will be cut this summer to reduce delays, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in an April 16 press release.
Over 3,080 flights were scheduled for peak days this summer, a 14.9% increase from the summer of 2025, according to the FAA release. The decision to cut flights will limit the airport’s daily operations to 2,708. Air traffic controllers are currently experiencing “constrained gate capacity and ongoing taxiway closures from construction.”
A total of 2,680 flights were scheduled at O’Hare during last summer’s peak, which is slightly lower than the FAA’s planned limit, according to The Associated Press (AP). O’Hare had among the worst records for for flight delays nationally in 2025 and has more flights than any other airport across the country.
The limits will take effect on May 17 and last through Oct. 24.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the move to reduce flights at the airport will “make this busy summer travel season a little easier.”
“If you book a ticket, we want you and your family to have the certainty that you’ll fly without endless delays and cancellations,” Duffy said.
“We successfully turned Newark Liberty International into the most on-time airport in the Tri-State Area by fixing telecoms issues at record speed and reducing overcapacity. Applying that same strategy at O’Hare – where unrealistic schedules were set to dramatically exceed what they could handle – will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier. Along with our work to modernize air traffic control and boost staffing, the Trump Administration is using every tool at its disposal to deliver a safe, efficient, and seamless flying experience,” he continued.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford offered a similar sentiment.
“Our number one priority is the safety of the flying public, and that means ensuring airline schedules reflect what the system can safely handle. We appreciate the airlines working together with us to reach a responsible level of operations that strengthens safety and delivers a more reliable travel experience for the American public,” he said. (RELATED: Judge Sentences Man To 438 Years In Record-Breaking Multi-State Child Sex Abuse Case)
During this summer’s travel season, fewer flights will be cut on slower days of the week such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, when less flights are typically scheduled, the AP reported. American Airlines may have to cut no more than an estimated 40 arrivals and departures each day, the airline told employees in a memo obtained by the outlet.
The FAA has held discussions with airlines regarding flight reductions since late February, according to CBS News.
Long checkpoint lines at airports eased in late March as Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers received backpay for continuing to work during the government shutdown, according to the AP.