Major airlines cancel 2,700 flights this month from world's busiest airport

Airlines operating at the world's busiest airport will have to make schedule cuts to reduce operational disruptions ahead of the summer months. It is being reported that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is forcing operators at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to make schedule cuts in order to reduce operational disruption . This has caused major airlines American Airlines and United Airlines to shelve nearly 2,700 May flights collectively. The FAA in April announced that it would be taking "action to prevent endless delays [and] cancellations at Chicago O’Hare." It is understood that less than 60% of arrivals and departures were on time at O'Hare the previous summer and the airport is wanting to improve performance in 2026. O'Hare airport is set to see almost 15% more flights on peak days this year than in the summer of 2025, MSN reported. This brings the potential for overscheduling. Airlines have been told to cut flights in an attempt to prevent flight disruptions. "We appreciate the airlines working together with us to reach a responsible level of operations that strengthens safety and delivers a more reliable travel experience for the American public," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Data from aviation analytics company Cirium on week-on-week schedule changes showed that United and American alone have cut a total of 2,696 roundtrip flights at the airport in May. This averages about 87 flights per day. This is marginal compared to O'Hare's overall operations, but it will still have some operational impact on flyers. American Airlines' May total has dropped by 787 round trips from 32,410 to 31,623. It has had to cut at least 10 rotations on 24 of its routes out of Chicago in May 2026. United Airlines accounts for the bulk of these cuts, with 1,909 services having been shelved. The airline's presence at O'Hare will drop from 43,271 scheduled roundtrip flights to 41,362 in May. It has been reported that 53 routes have seen 10 or more May departures cut from the United Airlines' schedules at O'Hare. Even United Airline's largest US hubs are not saved from the cuts. George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport have seen 10 or more May cuts.