en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to extend the daily flight cap at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) for an additional 12 months, limiting operations to 2,708 flights, with the measure remaining in effect until October 30, 2027. Originally set to expire on October 24, 2025, this order was issued in April. Previously, summer schedules submitted by United Airlines and American Airlines would have pushed airport operations well beyond its capacity.

In recent years, United Airlines and American Airlines have engaged in a high-profile battle for market share at O'Hare. This extension effectively freezes competition between the two carriers until the end of 2027. During this period, the airport is undergoing massive construction, which will impact airline operations.

By annual flight operations, O'Hare is the busiest airport in the United States. In its order, the FAA noted that airport construction projects and adjustments will continue through the summer of 2027, making it necessary to extend the flight cap for another 12 months. O'Hare is undergoing a multi-billion-dollar modernization project called "ORDNext," which includes major works such as the construction of a new O'Hare Global Terminal to replace Terminal 2. The FAA also reserves the right to review future schedule submissions and is prepared to intervene again if American Airlines and United Airlines escalate schedule competition. The agency stated that if the cap order had expired as originally planned, the airport would have experienced severe delays and operational disruptions.

As the two dominant carriers at O'Hare, American Airlines and United Airlines have been in an escalating battle for market share. The airport allocates gates based on each airline's flight volume from the previous year, using a "use it or lose it" model. This led both carriers to plan significant capacity increases for the summer of 2026, ultimately forcing the FAA to step in and impose the flight cap. The cap of 2,708 flights represents a reduction of more than 370 flights from the 3,080 flights planned for peak days in the summer of 2026, which represented a 14.9% increase over the summer of 2025. The FAA deemed these schedules beyond O'Hare's safe handling capacity, accusing the airlines of submitting unreasonable schedules. The FAA previously noted that O'Hare's on-time performance was below 60% in the summer of 2025. Currently, O'Hare ranks worst among U.S. airports for taxi times, averaging over 28 minutes from gate to takeoff and over 18 minutes for taxi after landing.

Both American Airlines and United Airlines have publicly supported the extension of the flight cap. American Airlines called the move a "prudent decision" that will "help maintain operational stability, improve reliability, reduce delays, and support a more predictable travel experience." United Airlines stated that the order will help O'Hare maintain reliability. However, United initially criticized the FAA's original order for having "significant bias," claiming it was based on each airline's summer 2025 schedule rather than its planned 2026 schedule. United remains the largest carrier at O'Hare, with a market share exceeding 45%, and in the upcoming winter season, it has secured two more total gates compared to last year. After losing ground to United last year, American Airlines this week celebrated regaining three gates at O'Hare and secured two gates previously used by the now-defunct Spirit Airlines.