O'Hare's boom continues despite shutdown flight chaos
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A cargo plane prepares to land at O'Hare International Airport in October. Photo: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The government shutdown continues to impact both Chicago airports, even as O'Hare sees record growth in 2025.
Why it matters: Air traffic controllers have been calling in sick during the shutdown, forcing full airport ground stops and massive delays across the country.
The latest: On Tuesday, several air traffic controllers handed out pamphlets at airports to raise awareness about the ongoing delays caused by the shutdown.
- Tuesday was the first day of work for air traffic controllers without a paycheck. They are considered essential workers and will get paid when the shutdown is over.
- On Sunday, over 8,000 flights were delayed across the country.
State of play: While airline passengers may be inconvenienced in the short term, both major carriers at O'Hare are expanding their flight options for 2026 and beyond.
- United Airlines announced it will add domestic flight routes next year, including to destinations like Santa Barbara, California. The airline says these additions are due to the city rewarding them with more gates.
What they're saying: "United is already flying its busiest schedule in history at O'Hare, and now these additional gates have unlocked new opportunities to intertwine cities across the country," United's Patrick Quayle said in a statement.
Yes, but: Not to be outdone, American Airlines added several international destinations to its O'Hare lineup and, in a recent earnings call, doubled down on its intent to scale even bigger in Chicago.
- "As we look out into the future, we anticipate that Chicago will return to its rightful place as one of our largest and more profitable hubs," American CEO Robert Isom said.
Zoom out: O'Hare is having a moment. The 80-year-old airport saw record traffic this summer as the city embarks on the long-awaited renovation project.
The other side (of town): Chicago's second airport, Midway, is also seeing delays. Midway's top carrier, Southwest Airlines, had 45% of its flights delayed on Monday.
- The airport is also facing controversy for abruptly ending a contract with Gene & Georgetti to make way for slot machines.
What's next: Kayak, the travel booking site, ranks O'Hare in the top 10 for busiest holiday travel searches, suggesting that Thanksgiving and Christmas travel could also approach record crowds.