"FAA extends flight caps at O'Hare to spring"

Thursday, October 13, 2005

FAA extends flight caps at O'Hare to spring 
The Chicago (IL) Sun Times


Federal aviation regulators have extended a temporary cap on flights into
O'Hare International Airport into next spring as a way to reduce delays,
according to a federal order made public Thursday.

The Federal Aviation Administration extended the flight restrictions, which
were to expire at the end of this month, to April 1 "to ensure that
congestion and delay at O'Hare remain at manageable levels."

The FAA and O'Hare's major airlines agreed last year to cut the number of
flights at the delay-prone facility, which had the worst delays of the
nation's 31 busiest airports in 2004.

Under the restrictions, which took effect in November, United Airlines and
American Airlines agreed to cut 37 daily peak-hour flights. Also, domestic
airlines are limited to a combined 88 arrivals per hour between 7 a.m. and 8
p.m., down from more than 120 an hour.

The limits have worked, according to the FAA. This year, 77 percent of
flights arrived at O'Hare on time, up from 70 percent in 2004.

United Airlines spokesman Dave Dimmer said the carrier supported the
extension as "the best short-term answer to limiting the congestion" at
O'Hare. United accounts for 50 percent of flights at O'Hare.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith said the extension was not a surprise
and that the carrier is comfortable with the restrictions.

The FAA is reviewing a proposal to extend the restrictions through April
2008.


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