American Airlines is ramping up its presence at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), adding 100 new daily departures as part of its largest spring schedule on record at the hub.
The enhanced spring operation brings the airline’s peak activity at ORD to more than 500 daily departures—representing a 30 percent increase over last spring. The growth also makes ORD the fastest-growing airline hub in the U.S. this year and places it among the top 10 largest hub operations of all major U.S. carriers.
Increased Service & Growth
“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,” said Steve Johnson, American’s Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, in a media statement.
As part of the expanded spring schedule, American is increasing service in 75 markets, including Boston, Cincinnati, Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Myers and Orlando in Florida. The airline is also doubling service from Chicago to popular spring break destinations such as Las Vegas, Panama City and Sarasota in Florida. Additionally, American will offer more than twice the originally planned service for spring 2026 to Savannah, Georgia, and San Francisco.
Beyond domestic growth, American is also expanding its international footprint from Chicago with the return of summer seasonal service to two high-demand European destinations: Paris and Dublin. The expansion is part of American’s broader, multi-year investment strategy at O’Hare, which the airline says has already improved operational reliability, enhanced the customer experience and introduced more premium travel options.
For more information, visit aa.com.
