In 2026, American Airlines will be expanding the Chicago aviation network, scheduling additional flights to over 75 popular destinations with 100 new daily departures from O’Hare International Airport (ORD).
What To Anticipate In 2026
The 2026 spring schedule for ORD will now operate with an increased service to 75 destinations, including Boston, Cincinnati, and Orlando, adding 100 peak daily departures to these locations. Additionally, services from ORD to popular spring break destinations like Las Vegas and Panama City will be doubled. Due to this expansion, American Airlines predicts that more than 500 daily departures will occur this spring, a 30% increase from 2025.
American Airlines’ Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer, Steve Johnson, shared:
“We’re committed to rebuilding our Chicago hub to be stronger and more compelling for our customers, and our 2026 plans are both emblematic of that objective and an exciting way to end a year defined by bold growth and investment at ORD.”
Furthermore, the airline also announced that its summer seasonal service from ORD will be further expanded. Travellers will be able to experience services from ORD to Dublin for a month longer than usually scheduled, as well as a three-month extension for flights to Paris. This follows another major expansion at ORD in 2025, where 20% more flights and 22% more seats were added in comparison to the previous year.
Upgrades To the Travel Experience
Over 2025, American Airlines has worked to expand ORD beyond its global network by improving the travel experience. For example, two new gates were acquired to allow travel to three new destinations, and all flights were upgraded to operate on dual-class regional jets, offering premium options to every flight from ORD.
Other developments came through a complete redesign of their mobile app, new devices and initiatives to improve baggage handling, and enhancements to the new premium-configured Boeing 787-9 aircraft. More developments like these can be anticipated in 2026 alongside the expansion of the Chicago network in the coming spring and summer.
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