March 15, 2026 — Dallas, Texas — Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports starting June 2026, with the last flights operating on June 3, the airline announced as part of ongoing network refinement efforts. The move addresses operational challenges at ORD, including potential FAA flight caps.
Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports starting June 2026 primarily due to difficulties operating at ORD, where the airline has faced capacity constraints amid increased competition from United and American Airlines. Service at ORD began five years ago, while Dulles operations date back to 2006.
Passenger Options
Affected customers with bookings on or after June 4 can receive full refunds or rebook and travel standby within 14 days at nearby airports. For Chicago, options include Chicago Midway (MDW), Milwaukee or Indianapolis. Washington-area travelers can use Reagan National (DCA) or Baltimore-Washington International (BWI).
“Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging, and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through our strongly-held position at Chicago Midway.”
— Southwest Airlines statement
Continued Service in Key Markets
Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports starting June 2026, but will maintain a strong presence via MDW, its primary Chicago hub with a 41-year history and up to 244 daily departures to over 80 destinations, covering all 15 markets previously served from ORD. In the D.C. area, Southwest remains the largest carrier, offering 271 combined daily departures from DCA and BWI to 79 destinations.
“Southwest is committed to serving the Washington-area market and is the largest carrier in the Washington area.”
— Airline statement via Northern Virginia Magazine
Expert Reaction and Local Impact
DePaul University transportation expert Joe Schwieterman described Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports starting June 2026 as surprising, noting ORD’s national importance and risks from pushing capacity limits.
“O’Hare’s a really important airport in the national air system… Southwest is seeing that there could be a big headache at O’Hare.”
— Joe Schwieterman, CBS News Chicago
Impacted employees at ORD and IAD can bid for positions across Southwest’s network, including at MDW, DCA and BWI. The Chicago Department of Aviation maintains ORD can handle 2,800 daily flights despite FAA proposals for limits. Southwest Airlines to discontinue service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) airports starting June 2026 aligns with broader airline adjustments.
