Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth question FAA flight caps at O'Hare

Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are challenging the FAA’s decision to keep O’Hare International Airport’s flight caps in place for more than a year. The FAA ordered limits on flights to and from O’Hare through Oct. 24, citing that planned operations would exceed capacity. In early July, the agency extended the cap, keeping the limit of 2,708 takeoffs and landings per day through Oct. 30, 2027, pointing to ongoing construction and expected operational disruption if the order expired earlier. The senators wrote to Trump administration transport officials, saying talks indicated taxiways and runways could be fully open by Nov. 1, 2026, and argued O’Hare is critical for U.S. air travelers.