✈ United’s ‘line in the sand’ turf war with American, Southwest’s biggest change ever & more ✈

January 28, 2026

‘Line in the sand’

by Ben Mutzabaugh, Managing Editor for Aviation

Hello TPG readers!

What a week it’s been in the airline industry.

From the biggest airline turf war in years to the biggest change in Southwest Airlines’ history, there’s a lot to talk about this week. And did I mention that passengers endured the worst spate of flight cancellations since the depths of the coronavirus pandemic? American Airlines was hit particularly hard by Mother Nature’s wrath.

Let’s start with Southwest.

For five decades, the carrier’s open-seating policy practically defined it. But that changed yesterday when Southwest began assigning seats on all flights. For an airline that has spent most of its existence as a bold startup maverick that shook up the market like no other, it’s just the latest in a series of changes that are making Southwest look more like the airlines it used to take the fight to.

In Chicago, United Airlines and American Airlines are doubling down on what’s becoming the biggest airline turf war in years. The carriers are battling over the city’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where each operates a major hub. United, which is headquartered in Chicago, gained at O’Hare as travel recovered in the wake of the pandemic.

Now, American is pushing back, and things have gotten testy — with United CEO Scott Kirby going so far as to say he’s “drawing a line in the sand” over further expansion at the airport by its Texas-based rival.

United has also been busy on other fronts. That includes several headlines related to its United MileagePlus frequent flyer program, which — coincidental to the Chicago turf war — has former American Airlines executive Vasu Raja shifting to United in a consulting role.

I’ll end on that note for this week. Until next time …

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Photo Credit: BEN MUTZABAUGH/THE POINTS GUY.

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