American Airlines will launch flights on one of the shortest routes in its entire network this fall, restoring scheduled service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and South Bend International Airport (SBN) after more than a quarter of a century. The 84 miles (135 km) flight will launch on October 3, 2026, operated three times daily by SkyWest Airlines under the American Eagle brand.

Flights will be operated with 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets and will replace the Landline motorcoach connection that American has been running between the two airports since October 2025. American will be returning to a route that it last connected by air 27 years ago, giving the airline its second-shortest domestic route once services begin.

American’s Return To South Bend After 27 Years

Credit: Shutterstock

The three daily round trips are timed around midday, late afternoon and evening slots at O’Hare, with flights blocked at roughly 70 to 75 minutes in each direction. This is in contrast to the current two hours and 45 minutes onboard a Landline bus on the same journey. The full schedule and timings for this service are as follows:

* All times local

Capacity between the two airports also rises despite the frequency dropping from four daily round trips to three. The CRJ-700 accommodates up to 65 passengers, including nine in first class and a premium economy cabin, giving American 195 seats a day in each direction against 140 on the buses. SkyWest already operates the regional jet extensively for American Eagle out of O’Hare, where the CRJ-700 covers much of the carrier’s short-haul Midwest feeder network.

American will face strong competition from O’Hare rival United Airlines, which will be flying up to eight daily services on this route. With American adding three of its own daily flights, the ORD-SBN pairing will see more flights than in any other year. United increased frequencies from six to eight daily round trips in 2025, and uses both the CRJ200 and CRJ550.

A New Second-Shortest Domestic Route For American

Credit: Shutterstock

At just 84 miles, the flight between Chicago O’Hare and South Bend is shorter than the drive between the two airports, which is typically over 100 miles and can stretch well beyond two hours in Chicago traffic. Although American has blocked flights at up to 75 minutes, this is inflated by long taxi times at ORD, one of the world’s busiest airports.

The actual flight involves little more than a climb, a brief cruise and an immediate descent. The addition gives American a new entry near the top of its shortest-route table. At 67 miles (109 km), only Chicago O’Hare to Milwaukee (MKE) is shorter among its domestic flights, while the shortest route in its network overall is the 64-mile Miami (MIA) to South Bimini (BIM) service launched in February 2026.

Switching From A Bus To A Regional Jet

Credit: Landline

American launched its Landline services at O’Hare in October 2025 with routes to South Bend and Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD). Although traveling entirely by bus, the airline treats these services as “flights” where passengers still need to check bags and clear TSA screening before boarding. Each bus features 35 leather seats in a 2-1 layout, along with perks like complimentary Wi-Fi and earned AAdvantage miles as on a flight.

Its Chicago Rockford bus service is also ending in October, although this won’t be replaced by an air service. The final bus will depart on October 4, 2026, less than a year after it launched, and effectively spells the end for American’s short-lived motorcoach network out of Chicago.

However, its larger Landline network at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) will remain in place. Established in 2022, American offers bus flights from PHL to five destinations within 100 miles — Allentown/Bethlehem (ABE), Atlantic City (ACY), Wilmington (ILG), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AVP) and Trenton (TTN).