Even as airlines wrangle with the Federal Aviation Administration over cutbacks at JFK International Airport, they may be facing continued restrictions at O’Hare despite the scheduled opening of a new runway on October 31, 2008. The airport is capped at 88 arrivals per hour and the onset of those caps was the opening round of FAA’s regional jet attacks, calling on airlines upgauge aircraft from their 50-seaters. Related Story  The Chicago Tribune reported a conversation one of its reporters had with the head of FAA’s air traffic operations Hank Krakowski who indicated the caps may be retained in order to reduce delays. Continuation of the caps will hamper the airport’s $15 billion expansion, which the FAA recently approved, citing the fact it would increase capacity. “The Record of Decision (ROD) determined the O’Hare Modernization Program and Airport Layout Plan is the best alternative to improve safety, increase capacity and reduce delays with the least environmental impact,” said the agency. “The FAA’s approval completes the most extensive environmental review process in the agency’s history on schedule and allows the City to begin construction work at O’Hare International Airport.”
The Chicagoist, meanwhile, reported that Krakowski, saw the expansion as congestion-relieving, not an expansion which flies in the face of airline expectations they could return to 2004 schedules once the new runway opens up. Meanwhile, the city sees the new runway as paving the way for increased competition from low-fare carriers who will reduce fares to the windy city.
After official uproar by city officials, FAA softened said no decision has been made, according to the Associated Press.