This week the FAA announced it would implement a cap of 2,708 operations per day at Chicago/O’Hare for the rest of IATA summer, and both American and United started cutting
Both airlines filed cuts only for May when peak-day operations had risen close to 2,900 in the schedules
Combined, May has seen up to 150 flights pulled on peak days getting it close to the cap… but still slightly over, near 2,750
The airlines took different approaches to cuts
American reduced flying in 27 markets with the biggest cuts in regional markets that were closer, including the delay on starting both Erie and Allentown from May to Jun
At United, there were 79 markets that saw reductions, including not flying to some thinner outdoor markets (Billings and Great Falls)
The United cuts are spread much further out around the country
Jun will be a much more interesting look, but we imagine both airlines just wanted to get initial cuts out there for May because it is right around the corner
