The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on March 10 that it will hold a scheduling reduction meeting and accept submissions regarding proposed peak-hour operating limits at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, a move that could affect the schedules of American Airlines and United Airlines.
The proposed changes come as the agency reviews how many flights the airport can reliably handle during ongoing long-term construction. The FAA’s notice states that communicated schedules for Summer 2026 exceed what O’Hare can manage at peak periods, with daily operations projected to surpass 3,080 compared to about 2,680 at the Summer 2025 peak. The agency considers a “manageable” level to be around 2,800 total daily operations, or approximately 100 hourly departures and arrivals. Any reduction framework would necessarily shape how American Airlines and United Airlines allocate flights across constrained hours, according to the FAA.
American Airlines and United Airlines operate major hub networks at Chicago O’Hare, timing many flights in “banks” to maximize connections. Industry coverage has described the current dispute as a high-stakes contest over gate access and market presence, with both carriers adding flights and routes to protect their positions. This context helps explain why FAA scrutiny of total operations is being viewed through the lens of competition between American and United as well as systemwide delay prevention, as reported by The Points Guy.
Separate reporting citing Cirium schedule data shows that in the referenced second quarter, United is scheduled to fly nearly 51% of flights from O’Hare while American accounts for about 37%. Using projected numbers for 2025, United’s share is cited at 48% while American remains near 37%. These proportions mean even modest percentage-based reductions aimed at keeping total operations near a cap could translate into large absolute schedule changes for both airlines, according to The Points Guy.
The Federal Aviation Administration is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and oversees civil aviation including air traffic control operations and safety regulation. It traces its origins to 1958 (as the Federal Aviation Agency) before joining DOT in 1967; it is headquartered in Washington, D.C., according to the agency.
