Southwest Ends O'Hare, Dulles Service in 2026

Southwest Airlines announced Friday that it will end passenger service at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport effective June 4, 2026, shifting its focus to established hubs in the regions.

The Dallas-based carrier, which launched flights at O'Hare in February 2021 amid reduced air traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic, cited ongoing operational challenges at the airport as the primary reason for the withdrawal. "Operating at Chicago O'Hare continues to be challenging, and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through Chicago Midway," the airline said in a statement. Southwest has maintained Midway as its primary Chicago-area base for more than 41 years, offering up to 244 daily departures to over 80 nonstop destinations. All 15 markets currently served from O'Hare, including cities like Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix, will remain accessible from Midway.

The decision aligns with broader pressures at O'Hare, which recorded the highest number of takeoffs and landings in the United States in 2025, surpassing Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson for the first time since 2019. United Airlines and American Airlines, the airport's dominant...