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Southwest Airlines has announced it will discontinue service at 
Chicago O’Hare International Airport beginning June 4, ending a short-lived experiment that saw the airline operate at both of Chicago’s major airports. The Dallas-based carrier confirmed that all routes currently served from O’Hare will instead move to Chicago Midway International Airport. The decision marks a return to Southwest’s long-standing Chicago strategy centered on Midway, which has served as the airline’s primary base in the city for decades. According to NBC Chicago, the airline cited operational challenges at O’Hare and greater efficiency at Midway as key reasons for the shift.
Southwest’s departure from O’Hare effectively ends a brief chapter in the airline’s Chicago history that began in 2021. At the time, the airline launched service at the city’s largest airport in response to changing market conditions during the COVID-19 recovery and to expand its presence in the region. However, despite offering several nonstop routes from O’Hare, Midway remained the airline’s dominant base and one of its busiest operations nationwide. With the closure of O’Hare flights, Southwest is once again consolidating its Chicago network at Midway.
Southwest Ends Its O’Hare Experiment
Southwest confirmed that it will end all operations at Chicago O’Hare on June 4, 2026. The airline stated that operating at O’Hare has proven difficult, while its long-established presence at Midway provides stronger connectivity and efficiency.
The airline emphasized that the decision will not reduce service options for travelers in the Chicago region. Instead, flights from the 15 markets previously served from O’Hare will continue operating but will depart from Midway instead. Southwest also indicated that employees affected by the closure of O’Hare operations will have opportunities to bid for positions elsewhere in the company’s network, including at Midway. The airline currently operates up to 244 daily departures from Midway, underscoring the airport’s importance in its route map.
A Brief O’Hare Expansion After Decades At Midway
Southwest’s presence in Chicago dates back more than four decades. The airline began operating at Chicago Midway International Airport in 1985, gradually making it one of its largest focus cities. Over time, Midway became a major hub for the airline, offering extensive domestic connectivity across the United States. Even after launching service at O’Hare in 2021, Midway remained Southwest’s primary Chicago airport by a wide margin.
The decision to expand to O’Hare in 2021 was seen as a major shift in Southwest’s traditional strategy. Historically, the airline preferred operating from secondary airports, where costs were lower and congestion was less severe. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created new opportunities, including available gate space at major airports and reduced competition. As a result, Southwest launched nonstop service from O’Hare to cities such as Baltimore/Washington, Dallas Love Field, Denver, Nashville, and Phoenix.
Although the expansion brought Southwest into direct competition with dominant O’Hare carriers like United Airlines and American Airlines, the airline’s presence remained relatively small. Over time, the carrier adjusted its schedule and routes, with Midway continuing to handle the majority of Chicago-area operations. The challenges of operating at a congested mega-hub like O’Hare ultimately reinforced Southwest’s preference for its long-established base at Midway.
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All Chicago Flights Consolidated At Midway
The end of Southwest’s O’Hare operations also comes amid broader pressures at the airport. Federal aviation authorities have warned that flight volumes at O’Hare may exceed operational capacity during peak travel seasons. The FAA has even considered measures to reduce daily flight numbers to address congestion and overscheduling, as reported by NBC. While it is unclear if these potential limits directly influenced Southwest’s decision, they highlight the increasingly complex operating environment at one of the world’s busiest airports.
For travelers, the main change will be a shift in departures from O’Hare to Midway. All routes operated by Southwest from O’Hare will continue to run but will now depart from Midway instead, preserving connectivity while consolidating operations at a single Chicago airport.
Ultimately, Southwest’s withdrawal from O’Hare underscores the airline’s long-standing strategy of focusing on airports where it can operate efficiently at scale. While the 2021 expansion represented a bold attempt to broaden its Chicago presence, the airline has now chosen to refocus on the airport that has served as its Chicago home for nearly forty years. With hundreds of daily flights and dozens of destinations from Midway, Southwest’s role in the city’s aviation landscape remains as strong as ever.
