American Airlines is rising quick in Chicago.
Next winter, the Fort Worth, Texas-based provider will add seven new routes and enhance flights on one other 10 from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
The transfer is seemingly the most recent escalation in a renewed battle with United Airlines for the higher hand within the Windy City.
American’s new routes from O’Hare are:
- Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) in Ohio — twice each day beginning Oct. 6
- Curaçao International Airport (CUR) — Saturdays, starting Dec. 6
- Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA) — three weekly flights beginning Nov. 6
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) in Virginia — each day, beginning Aug. 6
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica — each day, beginning Nov. 2 (final flown in 2022)
- St. Croix’s Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) — Saturdays, starting Dec. 6
- St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SMX) — Saturdays, beginning Nov. 8
Tickets for the new routes go on sale on May 5.
These new locations for American out of Chicago — together with further frequencies on 10 extra routes — come as American and United face off in a renewed battle for Chicago.
American was sluggish to rebuild its O’Hare hub following the coronavirus pandemic, as a substitute specializing in its bases within the Sun Belt, together with Charlotte-Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
In 2024, American operated almost 26% fewer flights and 21% fewer seats from O’Hare than it did in 2019, schedule information from aviation analytics agency Cirium reveals. The airline as an entire operated 8% fewer flights however 4% extra seats.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily e-newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
United, which is predicated in Chicago, doubled down on its O’Hare hub. The airline operated 19% fewer flights however seats had been roughly flat in 2024 in comparison with 2019, in accordance with Cirium — that means, it flew its routes, by and enormous, with bigger plane.
More lately, United has gone so far as to promote across the metropolis that it’s “Chicago’s #1 Airline,” and supply MileagePlus standing matches to different carriers’ frequent flyers.
Adding to the less-than-friendly competitors: Under a new gate allocation system at O’Hare, the place numbers are re-allocated yearly based mostly on the final 12 months’s departures, American is predicted to lose as many as six gates on the space-constrained airport.
American’s determination so as to add flights at O’Hare this winter, which observe a bevy of new flight choices for this summer time, could possibly be a push to regain gates subsequent 12 months below the airport’s re-allocation mechanism.
“We continue to strengthen our network and reaffirm our commitment to the Chicago communities we serve — our loyal customers, the local economy and our team members who are the driving force behind our operation,” Ben Humphrey, vp of O’Hare operations at American, mentioned in a press release.
American’s seats at O’Hare will enhance 21% this June, July and August in comparison with final 12 months, per Cirium This features a new nonstop to Naples International Airport (NAP) in Italy that begins May 6.
Of the seven new routes coming this winter, American will compete with United on 5: Akron, Guatemala City, Roanoke, San Jose and St. Maarten, Cirium schedules present.
American would be the solely airline providing nonstops between Chicago and each Curacao and St. Croix.
The 10 current routes the place American will add further flights embrace O’Hare to Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA), Cancun International Airport (CUN), Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR). It competes with United on all 10 routes.
American claims it is going to be the most important airline from Chicago to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico with this newest growth.
Related studying:
