Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has recorded the longest aircraft taxi times among major airports across the United States.
According to the latest data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) covering January to August, arriving aircraft at O’Hare took an average of 20 minutes to travel from the runway to the gate.
This is the longest duration among major U.S. airports, trailing second-place Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina at about 14 minutes by a margin of 6 minutes. Approximately 14% of arriving flights at O’Hare took 30 minutes or more to reach the gate.
Departing aircraft also experienced lengthy delays, taking an average of over 28 minutes from the gate to the runway, making it the second-longest in the nation behind New York’s JFK Airport.
In contrast, Chicago Midway International Airport recorded an average of about 15 minutes for departures and less than 5 minutes for arrivals to reach the gate.
The primary reasons cited for the extended taxi times at O’Hare include increased flight volume, airport congestion, and large-scale construction projects. O’Hare was the busiest airport in the world by aircraft movements last year. The scheduling competition between United Airlines and American Airlines has further driven up operations.
During the summer peak season from June to August, passenger traffic surpassed 25 million, setting an all-time high, while aircraft operations increased by 6% compared to the same period last year.
To reduce congestion and delays, the FAA has restricted daily flight operations, with the measures extended through October 2027.
Additionally, an $8.8 billion terminal modernization project has exacerbated the congestion. The Chicago Department of Transportation noted that most major runway and taxiway construction has been completed, and the addition of 19 new gates by the end of 2028 is expected to ease congestion. United Airlines also stated that it is reducing taxi times by expanding taxiway connections and adjusting flight schedules.
