United Airlines bets big on fall travel by adding flights to O'Hare
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United Airlines aircraft are lined up at O'Hare in 2024. Photo: Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
United Airlines announced Friday that it is adding several flights out of O'Hare this fall, making it the busiest flight schedule of the year.
The big picture: After a rocky forecast due to economic uncertainty from tariffs and government cutbacks, United and other carriers were ready to cut back on flights.
Yes, but: That was based on projections, so airlines are adjusting lightning fast.
What they're saying: "Building on the momentum of an anticipated record-breaking summer, we're taking things further this fall with our busiest flight schedule of the year," said Omar Idris, United's vice president of O'Hare.
- "This is truly a historic time for our hometown hub of O'Hare."
By the numbers: The airline projects it will fly a peak of 71,000 seats in July and more than 72,000 in October.
- It is estimating that this fall, it'll fly the most seats in over 20 years.
The intrigue: The expansion is geared toward serving warm weather destinations, which are shaping up to be the new battleground for major carriers.
- United is adding domestic flights to winter vacation spots like Phoenix, Austin and Orlando, as well as international flights to Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.
- This comes after American Airlines announced new flights from O'Hare to most of the same locations.
Zoom out: The two major Chicago carriers have supercharged their rivalry in recent months. United's new marketing campaign takes swipes at American, while American has sued the city of Chicago and United over a deal to give United more gates at O'Hare.
- Now, they are competing for vacation travel.
Between the lines: United says it can add these flights thanks to new airplanes in its fleet.
- It anticipates up to 592 daily flights out of O'Hare come October.
Reality check: Even though you'd think airline competition would be good for consumers, flight prices are not going down. Instead, they are up 25% over the last year.
- Also, airlines are charging more fees for what used to be free staples, like checked bags and seat assignments, while changing gate check-in requirements.
- Just this week, Southwest Airlines ended its long practice of offering passengers free checked bags.
The bottom line: United is hoping new flights and updated amenities like Starlink and its expanded O'Hare lounge will keep Chicagoans flying the friendly skies, even if they are pricier.