American Airlines Expands Chicago O’Hare Presence with 7 New Routes, Directly Challenges United
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American Airlines is ramping up its presence at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) with the addition of seven new destinations and increased frequencies on ten existing routes for the Winter 2025–2026 schedule. The move marks a strategic escalation in the competitive landscape between American and United Airlines, both of which maintain major hubs at O’Hare.
Seven New Routes Target Winter Sun and Underserved Markets
American’s latest route additions from ORD include a mix of domestic and international leisure markets, with a strong focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. The airline will launch service to Akron/Canton (CAK) and Roanoke (ROA), as well as to five international destinations:
| Destination | Start Date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Akron/Canton (CAK) | October 6 | 2x daily |
| Roanoke (ROA) | August 6 | Daily |
| Curaçao (CUR) | December 6 | Saturdays only |
| St. Croix (STX) | December 8 | Saturdays only |
| Sint Maarten (SXM) | November 8 | Saturdays only |
| San José (SJO) | November 2 | Daily |
| Guatemala City (GUA) | November 6 | Up to 3x weekly |
American Airlines will be the sole nonstop operator on the Curaçao and St. Croix routes from Chicago, while competing head-to-head with United Airlines on the remaining five destinations.
The carrier also plans to increase frequencies on ten of its high-demand leisure routes from ORD, including Cancun (CUN), Montego Bay (MBJ), and San Juan (SJU).
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A Strategic Response to United’s Growing Dominance
The move comes as American seeks to reassert itself in a hub where United currently holds a significant lead. According to Cirium data, United controls 47% of seat share at O’Hare, compared to American’s 32%. United also serves over 190 destinations from ORD and is expected to gain up to six new gates in 2025, potentially increasing its gate total from 88 to 94.
United has been assertive in positioning itself as “Chicago’s #1 Airline,” recently launching a campaign that highlights its superior flight volume, lounge offerings, and even offering status match incentives to American AAdvantage members.
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American’s Renewed Focus on Chicago
After focusing much of its pandemic recovery on Sun Belt hubs such as Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Miami (MIA), and Charlotte (CLT)—all of which now exceed pre-pandemic capacity—American is signaling a strategic return to growth in Chicago.
Speaking on a recent analyst call, Steve Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer at American Airlines, emphasized the importance of ORD to the carrier’s network:
“Chicago is a really key part of our network… core to how we connect passengers across the northern tier of the United States.”
Johnson likened the airline’s recovery progress in Chicago to being in the “fourth inning” of a nine-inning baseball game, suggesting American has considerable growth plans ahead.
Positioning as the Largest Carrier to Latin America & the Caribbean from ORD
With the winter expansion, American claims the title of largest carrier from Chicago to Latin America and the Caribbean. This plays to the airline’s strengths in connecting the Midwest with warm-weather destinations, especially as travelers increasingly seek winter escapes.
“We are already looking ahead to giving our customers a reprieve from the bitter Midwest winter,” said Ben Humphrey, VP of ORD operations at American. “We’ll be offering more than double the flights to popular vacation spots.”
Bottom Line
American Airlines is fighting back at O’Hare with seven new routes and expanded service on ten more, directly challenging United Airlines’ dominance in the Windy City. With strategic growth in underserved international markets and a renewed focus on Chicago’s network value, American is preparing to rebuild and reposition itself at its third-largest hub—just as United eyes further expansion.
