Chicago to New York on delays: 'It's your fault'

Officials say delays plaguing O'Hare caused by congestion at N.Y. airports

Top slideshows

Getty Images	The Big Apple Long referred to as the center of American business, New York is a melting pot of cultures and landscapes. Take a visual tour of some of the Big Apple’s most famous attractions.
Lonely Planet Images	Hawaiian paradise The Hawaiian Islands are the perfect vacation destination for travelers of all types.
Lonely Planet Images	National spectacles Nearly 400 national parks can be found all across America, and feature breathtaking vistas, rock formations millions of years old, and more.

updated 5:24 p.m. ET Oct. 29, 2008

CHICAGO - Chicago can blame New York, at least in part.

Federal officials say many of the delays plaguing O'Hare International Airport are due to congestion at New York airports.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters told reporters at O'Hare on Wednesday that "Chicago shouldn't have to play second city to New York's aviation shortcomings."

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Peters says new data shows fewer than half the flights between O'Hare and New York's three airports are on time. That compares to an almost 80 percent on-time performance for all other flights.

A $15 billion upgrade of O'Hare is supposed to reduce delays. But Peters says New York congestion undermines that. She says her department is trying to address the problem, including by redesigning airspace patterns around New York.

Don't miss these Travel stories from msnbc.com
Curses! Superstitions around the world
Brits say no to foreign language on holiday
Deadwood marks 20 years of legal gambling
Top 10 global cities to party the night away
Eat, shop and explore Chicago’s ethnic ’hoods