Southwest Airlines is poised to halt operations at Chicago O’Hare Airport (ORD) starting June 4, 2026, shifting its emphasis to Chicago Midway Airport (MDW). This choice is part of the airline’s plan to optimize its network, pointing to difficulties at O’Hare, likely linked to route profitability instead of airport congestion. Presently, Southwest runs flights from O’Hare to approximately twelve destinations, including key hubs such as Austin, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.
Traditionally, Southwest has serviced Chicago through Midway, but in 2021, it branched out to O’Hare. This action echoed a similar tactic in Houston, where Southwest briefly functioned at Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) before reverting to Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) in 2024. The effort to access major international airports like O’Hare and IAH was an experiment aimed at capturing a new customer base, yet competition with established airlines such as American and United, along with Southwest’s non-ultra-low-cost structure, complicated the endeavor.
Southwest’s choice to concentrate on Midway is in line with its conventional tactic of operating from smaller, hub-like airports. This strategy enables the airline to keep its competitive advantage without directly contending on pricing or scheduling with larger carriers at major airports. The decision also signifies a wider trend of airlines prioritizing their established hubs, where they can capitalize on existing infrastructure and customer loyalty.