The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to scale back flights at O’Hare International Airport this summer as two major carriers rapidly expand service, raising concerns about delays, congestion and market imbalance.
The proposed reductions come as United Airlines and American Airlines engage in an increasingly public battle for dominance at one of the nation’s busiest airports.
Joe Schwieterman is a transportation expert at DePaul University.
“They’ve evolved into this big market share war that is pretty public and pretty emotional,” said Schwieterman.
Federal regulators are considering capping or reducing daily flights after airlines scheduled more than 3,000 peak-day operations this summer – far above what officials consider manageable.
The FAA has discussed limiting operations closer to about 2,600 to 2,800 daily flights to prevent widespread disruptions. Schwieterman said the move is unusual.
“This is pretty unprecedented for the federal government to come in and tell airlines what to do at a particular airport” outside of emergencies like staffing shortages or construction, he said.
The agency’s concern centers on a sharp ramp-up in flights this spring, combined with uncertainty about air traffic control staffing and gate capacity as the Transportation Security Administration remains unfunded and TSA workers aren’t getting paid.
If no FAA action is taken, Schwieterman warned travelers could face a difficult summer.
“The airport will just, in effect, be splitting from the seams in terms of what it can handle,” he said.
At the center is a growing imbalance between United Airlines and American Airlines, as United’s faster post-pandemic growth has prompted American to add flights and gates, intensifying a battle for long-term gate control.
Despite the tension, Schwieterman said maintaining two strong hub carriers in Chicago has clear benefits for travelers.
The competition helps keep ticket prices lower and improves scheduling options.
“That often means there’s more discount seats available,” he said. “They compete to have the best schedules, and that brings out the best in both airlines.”
The FAA is expected to require some level of cuts, potentially applied evenly across airlines to avoid favoritism.
“I don’t envy their position,” Schwieterman said. “No matter what they decide, there’s going to be controversy.”
