The agreement announced Wednesday marks the third time this year that the government and the airlines have cut flights at O' Hare in the hope of bringing the problem under control. The Federal Aviation Administration said the latest strategy will cut delays about 20%.
Transportation officials conceded that the agreement, which takes effect Nov. 1, is an interim step toward solving the problem.
"O' Hare will no longer be the place where on-time schedules come to die," said Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Marion Blakey, who signed the agreement with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
The agreement is in effect until April 30 and is expected to reduce delays at other airports by 5%, Mineta said. O' Hare's severe congestion causes a ripple effect on flights across the country.
United and American airlines agreed to cut 37 flights usually scheduled at O' Hare between noon and 8 p. m. — 20 by United and 17 by American. The two carriers operate 86% of O'Hare's flights. Other airlines agreed not to add more flights.
Since November, when the two carriers added flights in a competition for passengers, O' Hare has suffered record delays. In May, O' Hare had 14,500 late flights, more than ever recorded at a U. S. airport. The effect of the latest flight reductions will be even greater for the most severe delays—those of two hours or more. Severe delays should drop by 34%, the FAA said.
Even though O' Hare handles more flights than any other airport in the world, the demand to fly there is greater than its six runways can handle. Chicago has proposed expanding the airport, but the expansion would not be completed for at least 10 years.
Richard Marchi, senior vice president with the Airports Council International, said the government needs to develop long-term solutions that will prevent a repeat of the chaos that developed at O' Hare.
"The fear is that (the agreement) runs to April 30, 2005," Marchi said. "Then the question is, what happens？"
Mineta and Blakey said they will use the coming months to seek additional solutions at O' Hare.
The government initially demanded that airlines reduce the number of scheduled flights into O' Hare to no more than 86 per hour. But in a compromise with the airlines, up to 88 flights are allowed.
A provision of the agreement allows smaller airlines to add up to three additional flights to promote competition.
United and American had shifted or cut a total of 105 flights before Wednesday's deal. Both airlines released statements saying they approved of the cuts.
The agreement received mixed reviews from travelers' groups.
"This is going to be a benefit for travelers throughout our aviation system," said Caleb Tiller, a spokesman for the National Business Travel Association, which represents corporate travel managers. "Business travelers in particular are going to benefit from this new arrangement at O' Hare. "
Air Travelers Association. corn issued a statement denouncing the cuts.
"These 37 flight losses will reduce service at O' Hare and run the risk of raising fares for passengers," said the group's president, David Stempler.
"This will create O' Hare Lite, which is less filling and costs more. "
The agreement reached by Federal officials and nation's airline industry will last ______ .

A. five months
B. six months
C. seven months
D. eight months