Airline Rivalry Heats Up at O’Hare International Airport
United Airlines and American Airlines are vying for dominance at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. Both major passenger airlines have aggressively ramped up operations ahead of the upcoming summer travel season.
United Airlines’ Expansion Plans
On Tuesday, United Airlines announced it was planning its biggest summer at O’Hare with 750 flights per day. According to United, that’s about 200 more flights than its next largest competitor and the largest schedule any airline has ever flown at the airport. In 2026, the Chicago-based carrier will offer nonstop flights to 222 destinations from the airport, 38 more than its nearest competitor.
New Routes and Increased Connectivity
Starting in April, the airline announced it will also strengthen connectivity throughout the Midwest with five new routes from Chicago to Champaign–Urbana, Illinois; Kalamazoo, Mich.; Lansing, Mich.; La Crosse, Wis.; and Bloomington–Normal, Illinois. More than 80 cities will also receive additional flights to give customers more options from Chicago, including destinations such as Boston, Nashville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas.
American Airlines’ Response
Just days before United announced its expanded schedule, American Airlines announced a number of new routes from its Chicago hub. This included new service next winter between Chicago and Maui/Kahului, Hawaii, as well as new flights to Allentown, Pennsylvania and Columbia, South Carolina. The airline is also increasing operations from its Los Angeles hub, but a particular focus is on expanding its operations in Chicago.
Increased Operations and Destinations
The airline said the city had “remained an important part of the airline’s history” since the late 1920s. In the past year alone, the Chicago network has grown significantly, offering local residents greater access to more than 180 destinations. Last year, the airline expanded service from Chicago to 29 new destinations including Naples, Italy and St. Croix, St. Maarten. American also plans to offer more than 500 daily peak-hour departures as Americans begin to enjoy spring break.
Commitment to Investment and Growth
United’s vice president of O’Hare said, "We’ve spent the last decade developing and executing a strategy focused on winning brand-loyal customers by offering them more value when they fly United – and nowhere is that more evident than in Chicago." This growth at O’Hare underscores the commitment to investing in the network, customers, and hiring new employees in the city. The rivalry between United and American Airlines at O’Hare International Airport is set to heat up, with both airlines offering more flights, destinations, and increased connectivity.
