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American Airlines is making a huge push at its Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) hub with 100 additional daily departures for spring break 2026. The move boosts American’s spring schedule to more than 500 daily flights and restores pre-pandemic levels of flying and cementing the airport as the third-largest hub in the airline’s global network. The airline had been shrinking and United capitalized on this retreat to seize additional gates at the airport. Now, it seems like American is fighting back.
The expansion adds increased service to more than 75 destinations, including double the flights to key leisure markets such as Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Panama City’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), and Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). Chicago travelers will also see more than 2x as many flights to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) than originally planned for spring 2026. In total, the schedule represents a 21% increase over what was initially offered for sale and a 30% increase compared to spring 2025.
This surge in flights builds on a year of strategic investments that have reshaped American’s operation at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) as it battles to keep its biggest rival at the airport (United Airlines) from taking even more marketshare. Since summer 2025, American has added nearly 30 destinations from Chicago, including Honolulu’s Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL), Mexico City International Airport (MEX), Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD), and the airport’s only nonstop service to Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP). American has also expanded frequencies to warm-weather destinations across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, while adding more options to major business markets such as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), and Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA).
Passengers will benefit not only from increased flight options, but also from continued enhancements to the overall travel experience. American has rolled out redesigned check-in lobbies with self-service kiosks, improved boarding processes that reduce gate-checked bags, and implemented connection-saving technology that has already preserved thousands of tight connections. Chicago travelers are also the first to experience American’s new Boeing 787-9 aircraft (review here).
American is collaborating with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to implement biometric Enhanced Passenger Processing and partnering with the TSA to deploy TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID for faster security screening. The hub’s growth is delivering broader benefits beyond the airport. As a major economic engine for Chicago, it supports increased tourism, strengthens regional business opportunities, and offers travelers from smaller cities greater access to global destinations through convenient one-stop connections.
Steve Johnson, American’s Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, said:
We’re committed to rebuilding our Chicago hub to be stronger and more compelling for our customers, and our 2026 plans are both emblematic of that objective and an exciting way to end a year defined by bold growth and investment at ORD. Our continued focus on Chicago during the next year — a year that we celebrate the centennial of American and our 100th year of service at ORD — will make our network even more attractive and continue to enhance the travel experience, improve reliability and introduce more premium options for our customers. Strategic investments at O’Hare in 2025 set the stage for a record-breaking 2026, reflecting our unwavering commitment to our customers, team members and the Chicagoland communities we serve, as well as our long-standing legacy to Chicago and O’Hare — and to our shared future.”
Anthony’s Take: With more than 500 departures planned for spring break and next summer, American is rebuilding its position in Chicago. Strong local demand reflects this momentum: AAdvantage enrollments in Chicago rose nearly 20% year over year and local residents (as well as those connecting) are ready for more flights.
(Image Credits: American Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
