If you've ever landed at Chicago O'Hare and wondered why the plane seems to crawl forever before reaching the gate, you're not imagining it — and United Airlines' chief executive agrees. Scott Kirby has publicly called out the Federal Aviation Administration, arguing that understaffed air traffic control towers at O'Hare are behind some of the longest taxi times of any major US airport.
Speaking at an event in Chicago, Kirby didn't mince words. He pointed out that O'Hare is the only airport in the country where taxiing aircraft can't cross active runways, a layout quirk that forces planes into long, winding routes around the airfield. Hence his comparison: taxiing there can feel like driving to Milwaukee, a city more than an hour away by road. He wants the FAA fully staffed, saying full ATC coverage could shave six to seven minutes off each taxi and unlock extra capacity at the airport — something United, O'Hare's dominant carrier, would welcome as American Airlines ramps up competition there.
The numbers back him up. Reporting by the Chicago Tribune found that inbound flights at O'Hare average 20 minutes between touchdown and gate, while departures take around 28 minutes to reach the runway. That makes it the worst of the big US hubs. Charlotte Douglas, the next-worst for arrivals, averages a comparatively brisk 14 minutes. The Chicago Department of Aviation's commissioner, Michael McMurray, echoed Kirby, saying taxi times should fall once the airport's South Tower is fully staffed.
O'Hare's taxi problem even reaches across the Atlantic. British Airways, which flies twice daily from Chicago to London Heathrow, took the unusual step of hiring specialist 'taxi pilots' in May — roles paying up to $100,000 that required Boeing 777/787 type ratings and licences. Their job: handle the slow ground moves so line pilots aren't worn out by them.
For travellers, the takeaway is practical: build buffer time into any connection through O'Hare, especially if you're linking two flights on separate bookings. Twenty-plus minutes of taxiing each way eats into tight connection windows, and the problem won't vanish until staffing improves. If Chicago is your gateway to the US — or your stopover on the way elsewhere — the airport works fine, but patience on the tarmac is part of the deal.
