The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has extended its cap on flight operations at Chicago O'Hare International Airport through Oct. 30, 2027, the agency announced Friday.
The initial cap, announced in April via an order, was set to run through Oct. 24, 2026, and limits daily operations at the airport to 2,708.
FAA cited ongoing construction projects and "adjustments on the airfield necessitating the [original] Order" that are scheduled to continue through summer 2027 for the extension. The agency also noted that "significant delay and operational disruption" would occur at O'Hare if the order were to expire as originally scheduled.
The limit initially was recommended after American Airlines and United Airlines expanded their O'Hare flightsfor the summer 2026 season in part to retain or gain gates at the airport. More than 3,080 daily flights originally had been planned for the summer season at O'Hare, which would have been a 14.9 percent peak-day increase over summer 2025 schedules, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"We appreciate Secretary [Sean] Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford extending the scheduling order to support O'Hare's reliability," United said in a statement. "As the ORDNext construction project progresses and the airport's capacity increases, we're looking forward to further growth at our hometown hub that our loyal customers are anticipating."
American did not immediately respond to a request for comment but in a Reuters report said it was "a prudent decision that will help maintain operational stability, improve reliability, reduce delays, and support a more predictable travel experience."
RELATED: FAA Caps O'Hare Summer Schedule