United Airlines expands Chicago O’Hare operations with record 750 daily flights this summer

United announced on Tuesday that it will reach 750 flights per day this summer from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), 200 more than its next largest competitor and the largest schedule ever flown by any airline operating in the city.

Throughout 2026, Chicago's hometown airline will offer nonstop service to 222 destinations – more than any other airline at ORD, and 38 more than its next largest competitor – including 47 international cities across Europe, Asia, and South America, as well as 175 U.S. destinations. Starting as early as April, and on sale starting Jan. 29, the airline is strengthening connectivity across the Midwest with five new routes from ORD to cities including:

• Champaign/Urbana, Ill. (CMI) operated 4 times daily beginning April 30
• Kalamazoo, Mich. (AZO) operated 4 times daily beginning April 30
• Lansing, Mich. (LAN) operated 4 times daily beginning May 7
• La Crosse, Wis. (LSE) operated 4 times daily beginning May 7, 2026
• Bloomington/Normal, Ill. (BMI) operated 4 times daily beginning May 7

In late 2025, the airline also announced it would add flights to cities such as Santa Barbara, Calif. (SBA); Monterey, Calif. (MRY); Eugene, Ore. (EUG); Bristol/Tri-Cities, Tenn. (TRI), Erie, Penn. (ERI); Rochester, Minn. (RST); Wausau, Wis. (CWA); Marquette, Mich. (MQT), and more as part of its 2026 summer schedule.

In addition to enhancing connections between ORD and small and midsized communities, more than 80 cities will receive additional flights to give customers even more options from Chicago, including popular travel destinations like Boston (BOS), Nashville (BNA), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Dallas (DFW).

United's Chicago hub is expected to become the third-largest hub among U.S. airlines.

United will also operate from ORD to Guadalajara, Mexico (GDL), daily from June 8 to June 27, providing service for large international soccer games. With this add, United will have non-stop service from Chicago to all 16 cities hosting large international soccer games in 2026.

Operational Excellence at ORD

United averaged 541 daily departures from ORD in 2025, 31% more than the next largest competitor, and flew more seats from Chicago than at any point in the last two decades. 

To support the airline's continued focus on operational excellence, United plans to hire approximately 2,500 people at ORD before the end of the year. The airline plans to fly more than 370 daily mainline departures during its summer schedule – a 20% increase from summer 2025.