ORD Impacts: FAA Shutdown Slashes Chicago Flights by 10%

(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS) Chicago O’Hare International Airport will scale back its domestic schedule after a federal order tied to the FAA shutdown directed carriers to trim operations during peak hours. The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines to reduce scheduled domestic flights at O’Hare by up to 10% between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time, with cuts starting November 7, 2025, and reaching the full 10% by November 14, 2025. The directive, aimed at easing strain on thin air traffic control and TSA ranks during the government shutdown, affects one of the nation’s busiest hubs and thousands of travelers across the United States 🇺🇸.

Phased reductions and timeline

Airlines at Chicago O’Hare began immediate cuts of at least 4% on Friday, a first step toward a phased ramp-up:

1. 4% — immediate reductions (began Friday)
2. 6% — by November 11
3. 8% — by November 13
4. 10% — by November 14

The order applies during daytime and evening hours when airport traffic is highest, and it will remain in place until canceled by the FAA. Officials say the move is designed to prevent more chaotic, last-minute disruptions as staffing shortages grow during the prolonged funding lapse.

Early impact and carrier responses

The scale of cancellations is already visible. If reductions are spread evenly, O’Hare could see roughly 121 cuts out of 1,212 scheduled flights on Friday, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. By Friday morning, around 80 flights were already canceled at O’Hare as airlines reshaped schedules to comply.

• United Airlines: starting with 4% reduction on Friday (about 23 round-trip flights), stepping to 10% by November 14.
• American Airlines: confirmed a 4% cut from Friday through Monday, with possible further adjustments.
• Delta and others: offering fee-free changes and cancellations, urging customers to use apps and email alerts for updates.

Airlines are prioritizing cuts on regional routes with smaller aircraft to protect core long-haul and high-demand flights, a strategy intended to limit spillover impacts on the busiest corridors.

“This is going to be huge. There’s going to be 4,000 [canceled flights] and mind you that it’s not just canceled flights. Because of these canceled flights, there’s going to be thousands more delays as well.”
— Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy

Safety, staffing, and human toll

Labor and safety leaders warn of mounting human costs behind the decision. Controllers and TSA officers have reportedly been working unpaid for six weeks, and absenteeism is increasing.

• Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association: “Air traffic controllers are showing up to work every day to deal with issues that we’ve never seen before. 36-day shutdown. The stresses, the pressure, the fatigue is setting in.”
• FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford called the measure rare but necessary, noting his lack of precedent in 35 years in the aviation market.
• U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized a proactive approach: “We learned from [past incidents]. … we try to assess the pressure and try to make moves before there could be adverse consequences.”

Controller pipelines take years to build, and repeated funding pauses have disrupted training. TSA retains emergency staffing plans, but fatigue and pay gaps after weeks without checks weigh on retention. Union representatives report longer shifts and fewer breaks for O’Hare staff, contributing to stress that can translate into network delays and cancellations.

Practical effects for travelers

As flights are thinned during the day, passengers can expect:

• Longer queues and tighter rebooking windows
• Higher competition for open seats
• More last-minute changes, gate changes, and delay knock-on effects
• Greater disruption for families, students, hourly workers, and those with time-sensitive obligations

Carriers recommend practical steps:

• Check flight status frequently
• Arrive earlier than usual
• Watch airline apps and email alerts
• Take advantage of waived change fees and voluntary rebooking offers

Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests passengers on regional Midwest routes to O’Hare may see the sharpest schedule changes, while transcontinental and key business routes are more likely to retain slots in the early phase.

Penalties and compliance

Airlines that exceed the cap risk fines of $75,000 per flight over the limit. This penalty is intended to ensure schedules align with the reduced capacity controllers and screeners can safely support and to keep reductions predictable.

Coordination and local mitigation

Chicago city leaders and airport officials are coordinating with carriers to keep essential services running:

• Assistance for stranded passengers
• Extended customer service hours
• Possible deployment of additional on-the-ground staff to aid rebooking and manage lines
• Efforts to protect early-morning and late-afternoon banks that serve commuters and key connections

Airport spokespeople said they are in constant contact with carriers and federal partners, balancing passenger needs with compliance.

Agency guidance and contact information

The FAA urged the public to rely on official updates and not assume any flight will operate until confirmed by the airline. Travelers can consult the Federal Aviation Administration for agency statements and operational notices: https://www.faa.gov.

For schedule-related inquiries, the FAA Slot Administration can be reached at:

• Phone: (202) 267-2822
• Email: [email protected]

These channels, while often used by industry stakeholders, can help direct questions during the current restrictions.

Outlook and longer-term risks

The order’s duration is open-ended; the FAA has not given a firm date for lifting the cap. Aviation experts say the next two weeks will be critical in determining whether the system can absorb the stress without wider breakdowns.

• DePaul University Professor Joseph Schwieterman expressed cautious hope that “the system [will] be back to normal by [the Thanksgiving travel rush],” but noted this depends on staffing stabilization and the length of the shutdown.
• If controller absenteeism or TSA slowdowns worsen, deeper cuts could follow at other airports.

Even with phased cuts and contingency plans, the network effects — delayed crews, late-arriving aircraft, tighter ground operations — could extend beyond the official caps. Officials are betting that planned reductions, phased in early, are safer and less disruptive than unpredictable breakdowns during peak hours.

Key takeaway: Expect a bumpier travel experience in the coming days — more alerts, more gate changes, and more last-minute rebooking — as O’Hare enforces a phased reduction of 4% → 6% → 8% → 10% through November 14, 2025, until the FAA lifts the restrictions.