The average flight at Ohare taxis' for 30 mins?

N0, this isn't some cheap PR stunt for the Report, I simply don't have the time to fly commerical.

O'Hare goes nowhere fast

Axios News

Nov 9, 2026

O'Hare Airport just had its busiest summer ever. But for passengers spending what feels like an eternity taxiing to the runway, it might have felt like the longest, too.

Why it matters: Chicago officials are celebrating record traffic at O'Hare, but the airport's notoriously long taxi times raise questions about whether all that activity is coming at the expense of passengers.

By the numbers: More than 25 million passengers traveled through O'Hare from June through August, according to the Chicago Department of Aviation.

The airport recorded 245,719 takeoffs and landings during the summer, up 6% from the same period last year.

Yes, but: O'Hare also has the nation's longest aircraft taxi times, according to a July WGN Investigates report analyzing federal aviation data.

Departing flights spent an average of more than 28 minutes taxiing from the gate to takeoff, while arriving flights spent more than 18 minutes getting to the gate.

What they're saying: "This is not a metric in which it is good to have the highest number among major airports," DePaul University transportation expert Joe Schwieterman tells Axios.

He says O'Hare's size, construction and flight growth have combined to increase taxi times.

The big picture: Airlines like United and American have been adding flights, while the FAA has imposed limits on daily operations amid congestion concerns.

Meanwhile: Travelers are sharing their taxiing horror stories on social media, where viral posts about lengthy waits are piling up.

The other side: Despite the recent report and passenger frustrations, United Airlines says O'Hare's average taxi-in times are the lowest since March.

Reality check: The Chicago Department of Aviation says major runway and taxiway construction that has significantly affected taxi times is complete. That could give passengers some relief.

🚕 Your turn: Ever spent so long taxiing at O'Hare you thought you were driving to your destination? Reply with your best taxiing tales, and we may share them in a future newsletter.