FAA’s Chicago Flight Restrictions Against United & American Airlines Could Last Until 2034

Published Oct 24, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Journalist – Aaron is an aviation and travel journalist with 14 years of experience in the travel and tourism industry. His background spans airport operations, aviation infrastructure, and travel consulting, having worked with global organizations across New Zealand, Europe, and North America. Combining industry expertise with firsthand travel experience across more than 52 countries and five continents, Aaron covers airlines, airports, aviation policy, and the wider travel sector. He is based in Canterbury, New Zealand. His work has been published in Simple Flying and featured by MSN, SAM CHUI Aviation & Travel, EIN News, Pakistan Defence, and Climate Depot. One of United Airlines top executives has warned that the ongoing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) flight caps at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) are likely to remain in place until the middle of the 2030s, as the multi-year ORDNext terminal expansion and airfield infrastructure project continues. This sees the FAA currently preventing more than 2,700 daily takeoffs and landings to minimise the chances of severe congestion or flight delays. Recently, the FAA extended these limits through until the end of October 2027, but United Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella suggested to CBS News Chicago that the caps could persist until the completion of ORDNext in 2034. Flight Caps At Chicago O'Hare: The World's Busiest Airport Credit: Ritu Manoj Jethani | Shutterstock With O'Hare the busiest airport in the world by flight departures (ahead of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) being the largest by passengers served), these caps have forced both hometown airline United and Fort Worth-based American Airlines to scale back aggressive planned growth plans at the shared Chicago hub. This has seen United alone pause up to 11 regional and international routes. Impact for both airlines detailed in the table below: American Airlines Reduced summer schedule expansion plan, freezing the turf war between both American and United United Airlines The hardest hit by these limitations, seeing the suspension of ten new regional Midwest services, and an international route to Guadalajara (GDL). The major projects at O'Hare include the construction of two satellite concourses near Terminal 1, and the complete renovation and overhaul of Terminal 2. Combined, the full program is expected to cost more than $9.8 billion, and will periodically take taxiways and gates out of service. These prolonged infrastructure works have restricted airfield and gate capacity, and as a result, the FAA has placed regulatory constraints on airport operations. Simple Flying reached out to the FAA, United, and American; however, representatives could not be immediately reached for comment. Tighter Seat Capacity On Peak Routes Credit: Colinmthompson | Shutterstock The flight restrictions mean that slot growth will be frozen at O'Hare and means that travelers will face restricted flight choices on peak routes, with limited seat availability. The capped movements at O'Hare meant that United had to drop 10% of all flight operations and suspend ten new planned regional routes serving the Midwest. These constraints limit United's ambition to expand its operations at the Chicago airport to up to 1,000 daily flights, and American's plans to operate more than 500 daily flights. As suggested by the Aviation Journal, these prolonged infrastructure upgrades will likely linger into the next decade while the upgrades are undertaken. Imposed by the FAA, these flight caps are to protect the operational stability at O'Hare but, as a result, limit long-term commercial growth at the busy airport. Passengers can expect fewer direct route options and increased pressure on ticket prices until the infrastructure program is completed in the next decade. ORDNext: Multi-Billion Dollar Modernization And Expansion Program For O'Hare Credit: ARK NEYMAN | Shutterstock ORDNext is a multi-billion-dollar terminal modernization and expansion program which will boost gate capacity at O'Hare by up to 14%. The development is set to improve domestic-to-international connections while also upgrading general passenger amenities. A major component of the development is a new 580,000 square foot (53,883 m2) concourse which will be home to 19 gates. The satellite concourse broke ground in August 2025 and is expected to become operational in late 2028. Additionally, Concourse E will have additional gate capacity, with the first phase of this upgrade planned to begin this year. Soaring new central terminal facilities in the O'Hare Global Terminal are expected to be replaced, with construction for this part of the build expected between 2029 and 2033. Surrounding infrastructure, including underground tunnels, grade-separated roadways, and expanded stormwater management developments, is also being undertaken. ORDNext is the largest terminal expansion in recent O'Hare history. Construction is already underway and is designed to elevate all parts of the O'Hare journey. The new facilities are expected to further fuel O'Hare as an economic engine for the city and a global gateway for both local and international airlines.