Applauds Efforts To Add Capacity At Busy Airport

It will soon be a little easier for airlines to schedule flights to and from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). Along with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, FAA Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell announced Monday the elimination of flight caps at O'Hare.

Though the caps will soon be lifted, the agency isn't giving free reign to airlines, however. Sturgell also announced O'Hare has been designated as an International Air Transport Association (IATA) Level 2 airport... which will require air carriers to continue providing their schedules six months in advance. This will let the FAA aggressively monitor potential congestion and take appropriate actions to prevent congestion from occurring.

"The City of Chicago has outdone itself when it comes to boosting capacity," Sturgell said. "The extension of an existing runway two months ahead of schedule, together with the completion of a new runway later this year, will allow for an additional four to five arrivals per hour."

In 2004, arrivals at O'Hare were capped at 88 during most hours of the day to reduce congestion at the world's second-busiest airport. When the new runway is finished later this year, 56-70 more arrivals will be added throughout the day... and this additional capacity is expected to result in a modest decrease in delayed flights.

In addition to increasing capacity, the move enables airlines to adjust winter schedules to respond to evolving market conditions... which, somewhat ironically in this context, has trended towards airlines slashing capacity throughout their domestic networks, in order to make the flights they do operate more profitable.

"The measures are also good news for the nation's airlines, which are struggling with record fuel prices," Sturgell said. "By adding capacity and reducing delays, we are taking an important step that will bring much-needed relief to all Americans who rely on air transportation."

FMI: Read Sturgell's Speech, www.fly.faa.gov, www.ohare.com