U.S. DOT Orders Demand Management
At O'Hare To Reduce Delays

On April 21, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta announced new reductions in United and American Airlines flight schedules aimed at further reducing congestion and passenger inconvenience at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Speaking to reporters in a telephone news conference, Secretary Mineta revealed plans by United and American Airlines to reduce their daily schedules by another 2.5 percent starting in early June, the second time the airlines have had to trim schedules to help reduce congestion at O'Hare.

Both airlines will reschedule the majority of targeted flights to slower times of the day, but each also has plans to cancel a handful of operations, Secretary Mineta said. A total of 17 United and 12 American flights are affected by the announcement.

The latest round of cuts is meant to head off the approaching summer storm season in the Mid-West, and to deal with an anticipated increase in vacation travel.

A spokesperson for the Regional Commission on Airport Affairs said, “It is noteworthy that the Federal authorities can & will impose demand management at O'Hare to reduce delays, but absolutely rule it out as impractical, & even illegal, here at Sea-Tac Airport. Why is that?”

Back to Page 1 of Newsletter