Southwest Airlines leaving Chicago’s O’Hare Airport – NBC Chicago

Southwest Airlines will quickly be leaving Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the main airline introduced Friday.

In a press release to NBC Chicago, the corporate confirmed it might “discontinue service to Chicago O’Hare” starting June 4.

“Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging, and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through Chicago Midway,” the assertion learn. “Our robust service from our longtime base at Midway will continue to serve more than 80 destinations, including the 15 markets we served from O’Hare. Southwest remains committed to providing its signature hospitality to our Customers in Chicagoland.”

Southwest first launched at O’Hare Airport in 2021.

The firm mentioned it would function as much as 244 each day departures out of Midway Airport and all affected staff will “have the opportunity to bid for open positions across our network, including at MDW.”

The announcement comes because the Federal Aviation Administration called for a potential reduction in flights out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, though it was not clear if that performed a job in Southwest’s choice.

The FAA may set the variety of flight operations at 2,800 per day, citing overscheduling, “severe congestion” and better flight counts following expansions by each American Airlines and United Airlines. That would scale back the variety of flights obtainable in the course of the high-traffic spring break and summer time seasons.

Meanwhile, the airport is within the midst of a $6 billion renovation that may embrace the development of a brand new world terminal to exchange Terminal 2.

Southwest has equally undergone a number of adjustments lately, together with new bag policies, seating arrangement and boarding policy shifts and extra.