Administration

FAA seeks flight cuts at Chicago airport to head off summer delays

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by Sarah Davis - 04/17/26 1:13 PM ET

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by Sarah Davis - 04/17/26 1:13 PM ET

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will cut down on flights at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport in anticipation of summer travel delays, the agency announced Thursday.

The FAA will limit the number of planes departing the airport on a daily basis this summer to 2,708. There are currently 3,080 planned flights on peak days of summer travel from this airport, a 14.9 percent increase from last summer, according to the federal agency.

The reduction requirement will take effect May 17 and last until Oct. 24.

“Our number one priority is the safety of the flying public, and that means ensuring airline schedules reflect what the system can safely handle,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said in a press release. “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.”

The federal officials cited proposed expansion efforts from both United Airlines and American Airlines at Chicago’s O’Hare this summer that they said “could lead to significant Summer 2026 delays due to ongoing construction” that would impede air travel operations at the airport.

The Hill has reached out to United and American for comment.

The move comes amid security staffing shortages at airports resulting from an ongoing shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, which has stretched for more than two months.

Transportation Security Administration agents have had their wages withheld during this time period, with many agents choosing to stay home from work. The Senate is expected to vote on a funding bill to reopen the agency next week.

Additionally, the FAA’s decision comes at a time of rising jet fuel costs during the Iran war.

The average price of jet fuel in four major U.S. cities was up to $4.32 a gallon Thursday from $2.50 before the conflict began, according to the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby warned last month that these hiked energy prices could also push up airfare costs in the near future. The executive later said he anticipated oil prices to remain high into next year and said his company was planning to scale back on offered flights to offset costs.

“We hope it’s better, but the cost of planning for something like that is pretty small,” the CEO told CNBC’s Phil LeBeau in late March.

“We’re going to do a little less flying than we otherwise would, willing to leave a little bit of demand on the table if oil prices are lower, but want to be prepared for a scenario where oil prices are higher for longer.”

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