Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth question FAA flight caps at O'Hare

Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune on Jul 31, 2026

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Illinois U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are pushing back on the federal government’s decision to limit flights at O’Hare International Airport for more than a year.

The Federal Aviation Administration this spring ordered limits on the number of flights into and out of the airport through Oct. 24, saying the number of flights that airlines were planning would exceed the airport’s capacity.

But in early July, the feds extended the flight limits for another year, saying the cap of 2,708 takeoffs and landings per day would remain in place through Oct. 30, 2027. The FAA cited ongoing construction at the airport in its extension of the order.

“The construction projects and adjustments on the airfield necessitating the Order are expected to continue through Summer 2027, which will continue to limit airport capacity and impact airport operations,” the feds’ extension of the order read. “FAA finds that significant delay and operational disruption would occur at ORD if the ORD Order were to expire as originally scheduled,” the directive said, referring to the airport by its three-letter code.

Durbin and Duckworth, both Democrats, questioned the decision to extend the flight caps in a letter sent Friday to Trump administration transportation officials.

“The FAA’s notice of such extension references construction projects as the leading factor in this decision. Yet, through our offices’ discussions with the Chicago Department of Aviation ... we understand that construction conditions will improve throughout this summer, with all taxiways and runways open by November 1, 2026,” the senators wrote in their letter, which was addressed to Trump Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.

Furthermore, Durbin and Duckworth argued, O’Hare is a critical connecting point for air travelers throughout the U.S. Cutting operations there “reduces available flights for travelers at arguably the most crucial nexus for the United States and stunts economic growth for the entire Midwest,” they wrote.

FAA spokesperson Rick Breitenfeldt said the agency would respond directly to the senators.

O’Hare is in the midst of a major multibillion-dollar revamp and terminal expansion project expected to last years.

The airport is a hub for both United Airlines and American Airlines, which prior to the flight cap order had been embroiled in an arms race over market share at the airport. Gate space at O’Hare is allocated based on how much an airline flew the previous year, motivating airlines to add flights to their schedules in order to maintain or add gates.

United and American had both beefed up planned flights out of O’Hare before the FAA stepped in to break up the party. The feds’ daily flight limit still allows more flights per day than the airport saw on peak days last summer, but has put a cap on growth.

Durbin and Duckworth’s letter didn’t indicate whether the senators believed the flight caps were politically motivated.

The senators did ask the transportation officials to provide answers to several questions by the middle of August, such as details about what data the feds reviewed when extending the flight cap order. The letter also asked for an update on the senators’ request earlier this year that the feds prioritize O’Hare for additional air traffic staffing.

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