Overview
- United CEO Scott Kirby pledged to add as many flights as needed in 2026 to prevent any gate losses to American at Chicago O’Hare.
- Kirby said United made roughly $500 million in Chicago in 2025 and claimed American lost a similar amount with potential 2026 losses near $1 billion, a characterization American disputes.
- A late‑2025 city reallocation added five gates to United and cut American by four; American bought two Spirit gates for $30 million, and United says American is slated to receive three more later this year under a review.
- Both carriers are growing: United plans nearly 650 daily summer departures to about 200 destinations, while American is adding roughly 100 peak‑day flights to top 500 daily departures.
- United has matched several of American’s new ORD routes, including nonstops to Erie, Lincoln, and Tri‑Cities, underscoring competition for high‑yield corporate travelers.