Overview
- Airlines’ published peak-day schedules top 3,080 takeoffs and landings, up from about 2,680 last summer, which the FAA says would strain runways, terminals, and air traffic control.
- The proposed cap holds O’Hare to roughly 100 departures and 100 arrivals per hour, amounting to an estimated 9–10% reduction from current plans.
- FAA meetings on March 3–4 will examine each 30-minute period from 06:00 to 21:59, solicit airline-by-airline reductions, and precede a final order in the Federal Register.
- The limits are expected to apply to U.S. carriers only, with foreign airline schedules not affected, and would cover the March 29–Oct. 25 summer season.
- United plans roughly 750–780 daily departures and American about 500–526 as both chase gate share, with United and American issuing statements signaling cooperation with the FAA process.