Southwest stopped flying from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) effective June 4, 2026. It still serves the Chicago area from Midway (MDW), where the airline says it will offer more than 80 destinations, including the 15 markets it had served from O’Hare. The airline described O’Hare as challenging to operate and placed the suspension within broader network optimization efforts; it has not disclosed route-level financial results establishing that losses caused the exit.
Why is Southwest leaving O’Hare?
Southwest’s stated reason was operational. A spokesperson told Aviation Week that “operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging.” The airline said its long-standing Midway base could serve the Chicago region. In its second-quarter 2026 Form 10-Q, Southwest described the June 4 suspension at O’Hare, along with its suspension at Washington Dulles, as part of intensified network optimization. The filing also says a majority of affected employees transferred to similar positions elsewhere in the network.
That explanation does not establish that O’Hare routes were unprofitable. The available reporting and company filing do not disclose route-level financial results. DePaul University transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman, quoted by the Daily Herald, discussed looming FAA flight cuts alongside Southwest’s limited O’Hare schedule; that is expert interpretation, not a company-stated cause.
How large was Southwest’s O’Hare operation?
The schedule figures show how different Southwest’s presence was at the two Chicago airports, but they measure scheduled seats, not revenue, costs or profitability. Aviation Week reported OAG Schedules Analyzer figures in March 2026:
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| Airport | Southwest share of two-way weekly seats | Reported seat figure |
|---|---|---|
| O’Hare (ORD) | 1.7% | Southwest share; total seat count not stated in the cited report |
| Midway (MDW) | 92.1% | 476,008 two-way weekly seats at the airport |
These are time-specific schedule measures reported by Aviation Week, not evidence that a particular airport or route made or lost money. The same report said O’Hare was a hub for United and American, while Midway was a much larger part of Southwest’s Chicago operation.
Southwest’s Chicago timeline
- October 12, 2020: Southwest announced plans to add O’Hare service while continuing its existing Midway operation, which it called its longtime Chicago home. The airline expected flights to start in the first half of 2021. (Southwest announcement)
- February 2021: The Daily Herald reports that Southwest began flying from O’Hare.
- April 2024: Southwest was offering 30 daily O’Hare departures, according to the Daily Herald. It later reduced the schedule to 18; the paper linked that reduction to delays in obtaining new Boeing aircraft.
- June 4, 2026: Southwest suspended O’Hare operations, according to its second-quarter 2026 Form 10-Q. The Daily Herald also reported the end of service.
Is Southwest still flying to Chicago?
Yes. Southwest continues to serve the Chicago area from Midway, not O’Hare. In a statement quoted by Aviation Week, the airline said Midway would serve more than 80 destinations, including the 15 markets Southwest had served from O’Hare. That destination count is the airline’s statement, not a guarantee that every route has the same frequency, fare or nonstop availability as before.
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For a trip that previously used O’Hare, compare the full cost and practicality of flying from Midway: travel time and ground-transport cost from your starting point, the available flight times, the fare, and whether a nonstop is offered. The cited sources do not provide current route-by-route schedules or fares, so check Southwest’s booking information for the dates you need.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens to a Southwest O’Hare flight?
For affected travelers, the Daily Herald reported options that included rebooking or traveling standby, switching to Midway, Milwaukee Mitchell or Indianapolis, or seeking a refund for the unused ticket and related travel charges. Those were options reported at the time of the announcement; they should not be treated as a promise of eligibility for every booking today. Check the current terms that apply to your itinerary and contact Southwest about the specific reservation before making replacement travel plans.
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