Effective as of June 4, Southwest Airlines will no longer operate service at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Washington Dulles (IAD) International Airports.
One of the United States’ “Big Four” carriers, the airline announced the news in March. In a press release, Southwest noted that although it’s pulling out of ORD and IAD, it will continue serving customers in those areas through ongoing operations at alternative flight hubs in those respective localities. There will still be Southwest domestic and international flights between Chicago Midway International Airport and destinations including New York, Atlanta, Miami, San Juan, Cancun, and more. Additionally, despite Southwest leaving the Washington, D.C. area’s busiest airport, IAD, travelers will still be able to go to and from Washington Reagan National (DCA) and Baltimore Washington International (BWI).
Southwest is confident that its ongoing service will continue satisfying its customers’ needs. The carrier claimed that removing ORD and IAD from its route network does “not represent any significant changes in flight availability” for Chicago and the Washington, D.C. area.
At the beginning of the press release, the airline disclosed that it’s discontinuing its flight service from ORD and IAD as part of “ongoing efforts to refine its network.”
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Southwest noted that its employees at ORD and IAD “will have the opportunity to bid for open positions across [its] network,” including roles at other airports in Chicago and the Washington, D.C. area.
The carrier is leaving ORD after over 40 years of service there, stating that “operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging.” Southwest’s service at IAD will stop just short of what would have been its 20th anniversary there, as it began operating at the latter flight hub in October 2006. According to an Airports Council International report published in April 2026, ORD ranked sixth worldwide in 2025 in terms of passenger traffic. Additionally, the Chicago flight hub ranked as the airport with the most “aircraft movements” — aka takeoffs and landings — in the world for that year.
This summer, Americans can anticipate navigating a complex summer travel season influenced by various factors. Spirit Airlines‘ recent closure has created a service gap in South Florida and reduced overall budget-friendly flight options. Additionally, many travelers are still facing pricier flights and higher gasoline costs, both impacted by increased oil prices associated with ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
