American Airlines and United Airlines are locked in an escalating battle at Chicago O’Hare after the city reassigned five gates from American to United. Court challenges failed, prompting both carriers to add flights to defend gate counts. United plans up to 750 daily flights, while American targets more than 500, signalling an intense capacity war in 2026. (Image: O'Hara Airport)
30 January 2026
Chicago’s role as one of the most hotly contested airline markets in the U.S. is back in the spotlight, as American Airlines and United Airlines escalate a brewing turf war at Chicago O’Hare International Airport—one fought with lawsuits, gate purchases, and a flood of new flights.
The current clash dates to last year, when the City of Chicago reassigned five O’Hare gates from American to United. Under airport policy, gate allocations are recalculated annually based on how many flights each carrier operated in the prior year. United’s higher activity level earned it the additional space, cutting into American’s footprint at its longtime hub.
American pushed back hard. In May, the airline sued both the city and United in federal court, arguing that the gate review process had been launched too early and violated a 2018 lease agreement negotiated by the Chicago Department of Aviation. The Dallas-based carrier sought to halt the transfer but failed to secure a temporary order. In July, American dropped the federal case without prejudice, then promptly refiled in Cook County Chancery Court. That effort also fell short: on Sept. 25, a county judge dismissed the claims, clearing the way for United to assume control of the gates on Oct. 1.
Rather than retreat, American pivoted. In early December, it paid $30 million to buy two O’Hare gates from bankrupt Spirit Airlines, according to Reuters—an unmistakable signal that the fight for Chicago was far from over.
What followed was a capacity arms race.
United moved first. On Oct. 23, the airline announced plans to leverage its newly acquired gates to launch service to 10 new domestic destinations from O’Hare, six of them routes flown exclusively by United.
American responded with a far larger salvo. On Dec. 29, the carrier unveiled plans for 100 additional daily departures from O’Hare to more than 75 destinations in time for spring break 2026. That announcement built on 29 new O’Hare routes already slated for 2025. Then, on Jan. 22, American added three more new routes to the mix.
United, however, made it clear that it would not concede an inch.
“In 2026, we’re drawing a line in the sand,” United CEO Scott Kirby said during the company’s Jan. 21 earnings call. He stressed that United’s goal is not to gain additional gates, but to operate enough flights to ensure it does not lose any. “We are not going to allow [American] to win a single gate at our expense,” he said.
United chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella added another layer to the rivalry, saying the airline believes that of Chicago’s three airline hubs, only United’s was profitable in 2025—and that it expects the same outcome in 2026. While he did not identify the third hub, Southwest Airlines operates a major base at Chicago Midway Airport.
The sparring intensified again this week. On Tuesday morning, just ahead of American’s fourth-quarter earnings call, United announced what it called its “biggest summer yet” at O’Hare, with plans to operate up to 750 flights per day. United described the schedule as the largest ever flown by any airline at the airport.
Hours later, American CEO Robert Isom struck a confident tone of his own. During American’s Jan. 27 earnings call, he said the carrier has rebuilt its Chicago operation and expects the hub to surpass 500 daily departures next year. He also highlighted strong local momentum, noting that enrollments in the American AAdvantage loyalty program in Chicago rose 20 percent year over year in 2025, compared with 7 percent growth across the airline’s network.
Looking ahead, Isom said American expects Chicago to reclaim a central role in its system. He projected that O’Hare will become the airline’s third-largest hub and emphasized its importance for both local travelers and connecting passengers. The renewed investment, he added, ensures competitive service in the region—whether rivals like it or not.
As both carriers pile on flights to protect their gate counts, Chicago O’Hare has become the stage for one of the industry’s most direct head-to-head battles, with neither side showing signs of backing down as 2026 approaches.
