March 15, 2026 — Dallas, Texas — Southwest Airlines announced it will discontinue all service to and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) effective June 4, 2026, citing ongoing efforts to refine its network amid challenging operating conditions and profitability pressures.
The decision ends flights to, from, and through both airports, impacting routes such as two daily direct flights from Phoenix to ORD and one to IAD, according to AZFamily. A Southwest spokesperson stated that both exits were part of the airline’s “ongoing efforts to refine its network.”
Customers with bookings after June 3, 2026, can rebook for free to nearby airports including Chicago Midway (MDW), Indianapolis (IND), Milwaukee (MKE) for ORD travelers, or Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Ronald Reagan National (DCA), Philadelphia (PHL), or Richmond (RIC) for IAD, or request full refunds via the Southwest website or app.
Operational Background
Southwest began service at ORD in 2021 as a pandemic-era expansion but faced financial underperformance, leading to cuts in 2024 amid competition from American Airlines and United at the hub, per The Points Guy and Dallas Morning News. The airline described operations there as “challenging.” At IAD, service dated back two decades but stagnated after the 2012 AirTran merger, with only consistent flights to Denver in recent years, Houston Chronicle reported.
Southwest will maintain strong presence nearby, operating over 90% of departures at MDW per Cirium data and serving the D.C. area with 271 flights to 79 nonstop destinations from BWI and DCA. Employees at ORD and IAD can bid for other company positions.
“As we look at our network, it really relates to the areas that — just don’t have a path to the level of financial performance that we need… That’s really the basis for the decision.”
— Southwest CEO Bob Jordan, April 2024, via The Points Guy.
Broader Context
The cuts align with Southwest’s network optimization amid high fuel costs and operational challenges, as noted in aviation trends. The announcement, reported across outlets like ABC7 Chicago and CBS Chicago, follows FAA discussions on ORD capacity. Southwest has served MDW for over 40 years.
This move reflects ongoing U.S. aviation adjustments, with no immediate impact on Southwest’s hubs like Dallas Love Field.