American Airlines continues to play catch-up in Chicago, with the oneworld carrier looking to chase hometown airline United Airlines, which still demands more than 40% of all operations. Data from Cirium, an online aviation analytics company, identifies that AA is set to increase operations at ORD by approximately 22% of flights when compared to the first half of last year, with an average increase of 168 daily flights.

While American continues its push at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, its busiest route from the airport is unsurprisingly to its home at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airportwith an average of 12 daily flights, a total of 2,176 one-way flights (double for return) total in the first half (equating to more than 80 each week). Overall, AA is set to increase operations by an average of 168 additional daily flights across the wider network between now and the end of June (approximately 22%).

Growing Its Presence In Chicago

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The 22% growth forecasted by AA in the first half from ORD can be partially attributed to the additional 19 new or returning routes that are set to feature. These include Akron, Chattanoogam México City, Staunton/Waynesboro/Harrisonburg, Roanoke, Lewisburg, Honolulu, San José (California), Hailey/Sun Valley, Santa Fe, Erie, Idaho Falls, Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, Lincoln, Curaçao, Christiansted, St. Croix, St. Maarten, Querétaro, and San José (Costa Rica).

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In total, American is planning a total of 168,419 movements in the first half, represented by a total of 936 daily flights. This is an increase from the 138,193 for the same half last year, or a total of 768 daily flights (a total of 168 additional daily flights). The top three routes are detailed below:

Key Markets From ORD

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America’s growth at O’Hare is well supported by a strong number of daily operations across many of the country’s largest cities. As already mentioned, the most frequented route from ORD is to Dallas/Fort Worth with an average of 12 daily flights.

LaGuardia Airport is the second most popular route, with a total of 1,766 one-way flights in the first half, ten flights on average per day, or a total of 67 each week. This route, of course, is complemented with additional operations to other key New York airports, JFK and Newark, which are both served by AA.

Miami International Airport is the third most popular market for AA from ORD, with an average of nine daily flights, or 1,552 one-way flights in the half, or an average of 60 each week. Other top markets include Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Columbus:

Keeping in mind that this analysis does not include the aircraft size or type, does not analyse the total number of available seats and/or passengers carried.

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Chicago Turfwar: Inside American And United’s Battle For Supremacy At O’Hare

These two carriers continue to jostle for market share.

Who Will Come Out On Top?

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For both American and United Airlines, the battle for supremacy at ORD is through the allocation of gates. These allocations dictate the total number of departures the airline can schedule. This has been seen prevalently with American’s recent gate acquisition from ultra-low-cost-carrier Spirit Airlines for $30 million. UA has also gained four additional gates this year, with a fifth set to join soon.

While many critics will be quick to point out that they believe United will always be number #1 at Chicago, American Airlines continues to invest in its presence at ORD. Between January and December 2024, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, AA remained present in all of the top ten busiest domestic routes from ORD (as did United).

Internationally, for the same period, AA operated in the top three busiest international routes from ORD, being London Heathrow Airport, Toronto Pearson International Airport, and Cancun International Airport, alongside United.