March 14, 2026 — Chicago Southwest Airlines announced it will discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) effective June 4, 2026, citing ongoing network refinement and operational challenges at these locations.
The Dallas-based carrier, which launched service at O’Hare in 2021, will redirect operations to its longstanding hub at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), where it operates up to 244 daily departures to over 80 destinations, including the 15 markets previously served from O’Hare. In the Washington, D.C. area, Southwest will maintain service at Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI).
Reasons for the Decision
Southwest described the move as part of efforts to “redefine” its network. A spokesperson stated:
“Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging,” according to a Southwest Airlines spokesperson in a Friday statement, “and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through our strongly-held position at Chicago Midway.”
The airline noted similar difficulties at Dulles, with the decision aligning with recent exits from other markets like Houston-Bush and Syracuse.
Customer and Employee Accommodations
Customers with bookings on or after June 4, 2026, can rebook on alternate flights, such as from Midway, or request full refunds via the airline’s travel advisory page. Affected employees are eligible to bid for open positions network-wide, including at Midway.
“As part of Southwest’s ongoing efforts to refine its network, the company will discontinue service to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD), effective June 4. These changes do not represent any significant changes in flight availability for these cities, as we will continue our robust service at Chicago Midway (MDW), Baltimore Washington International (BWI), and Washington Reagan National (DCA).”
Background and Coverage
Southwest has operated at Midway for over 40 years, making it one of its largest focus cities. The O’Hare expansion in 2021 was an experiment amid post-COVID recovery but proved operationally difficult, per Simple Flying.
The announcement, first noted via customer emails and the travel advisory, spread rapidly across Chicago media including Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, ABC7 Chicago, WGN-TV, and national outlets like AirlineGeeks. No official social media post from @SouthwestAir has appeared as of March 14.
This shift marks a significant adjustment in Southwest’s U.S. network, with Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (and Washington Dulles) effective June 4, 2026, prioritizing efficiency at established bases. For related updates, see Aeronautics Online sitemap.
