American adds 7 new O’Hare routes in battle for Chicago with United
American Airlines is growing fast in Chicago.
Next winter, the Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier will add seven new routes and increase flights on another 10 from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD). The move is seemingly the latest escalation in a renewed battle with United Airlines for the upper hand in the Windy City.
American's new routes from O'Hare are:
- Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) in Ohio — twice daily, starting Oct. 6
- Curacao International Airport (CUR) — Saturdays, beginning Dec. 6
- Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport (GUA) — three weekly flights, starting Nov. 6
- Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) in Virginia — daily, starting Aug. 6
- Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica — daily, starting Nov. 2 (last flown in 2022)
- St. Croix's Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) — Saturdays, beginning Dec. 6
- St. Maarten's Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) — Saturdays, starting Nov. 8
Tickets for the new routes go on sale on May 5.
These new destinations for American out of Chicago — along with additional frequencies on 10 more routes — come as American and United face off in a renewed battle for Chicago.
American was slow to rebuild its O'Hare hub following the COVID-19 pandemic, instead focusing on its bases in the Sun Belt, including Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW).
In 2024, American operated nearly 26% fewer flights and 21% fewer seats from O'Hare than in 2019, schedule data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows. The airline as a whole operated 8% fewer flights but 4% more seats.
Meanwhile, United, which is based in Chicago, doubled down on its O'Hare hub. The airline operated 19% fewer flights, but seats were roughly flat in 2024 compared to 2019, according to Cirium — meaning it flew its routes, by and large, with larger aircraft.
More recently, United has gone as far as to advertise around the city that it is "Chicago's #1 Airline" and offer MileagePlus status matches to other carriers' frequent flyers.
Adding to the less-than-friendly competition: Under a new gate allocation system at O'Hare, where numbers are reallocated annually based on the previous year's departures, American is expected to lose as many as six gates at the space-constrained airport.
American's decision to add flights at O'Hare this winter, which follows a bevy of new flight options for this summer, could be a push to regain gates next year under the airport's reallocation 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, vice president of O'Hare operations at American, said in a statement.
American's seats at O'Hare will increase 21% this June, July and August compared to last year, per Cirium. This includes 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 five: Akron, Guatemala City, Roanoke, San Jose and St. Maarten, Cirium schedules show. American will be the only airline offering nonstops between Chicago and both Curacao and St. Croix.
The 10 existing routes where American will add additional flights include ORD to Cancun International Airport (CUN), Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) and Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) in Mexico, plus Aruba's Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA). It competes with United on all 10 routes.
American claims it will be the largest airline from Chicago to the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico with this latest expansion.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
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