Southwest Airlines plans to start flying from O’Hare International Airport by the middle of next year, the airline said on Monday
The Dallas-based airline has served Midway Airport since 1985 but has never operated flights from O’Hare
Prior to the pandemic, O’Hare did not have the capacity to let Southwest move in, said Andrew Watterson, Southwest commercial director
« We have been wanting to complete Midway for a long time, » Watterson said « Reduced flight activity with COVID-19 has left a gap for us »
Southwest has no plans to cut service to Midway, which will remain its primary Chicago airport. All of the destinations offered by the Southwest to O’Hare will be cities that the airline already serves at Midway, which is usually one of its four busiest airports
Serving multiple airports within a city allows people to choose which airport is best for them, said Watterson
Watterson declined to comment further on how many flights or destinations he intends to offer from O’Hare, saying he’s still working on those plans with the city’s aviation department
Southwest will use the O’Hare common gates, and no other airline is giving up access to the gates, according to the Aviation Department
« Chicago is one of the strongest and most competitive airport markets in the world, and we always look forward to working with our existing airlines and newcomers to improve the service they provide to travelers. » Matthew McGrath, Department of Aviation spokesperson, said in an emailed statement
When Southwest began operating in Midway in 1985, it offered eight daily flights between Chicago and St Louis Southwest has grown over the years and offered up to 260 daily flights before the coronavirus pandemic slows down air travel, making it Midway’s largest airline Southwest plans to operate up to 200 flights per day from Midway in the coming months
Expansion to O’Hare likely won’t result in additional hires in Chicago area, Watterson said The coronavirus pandemic means the southwest is also seeing fewer passengers, so the airline expects to manage new O’Hare routes with existing employees Southwest has approximately 4,800 Chicago-based employees
« We expect that it will take some time for demand to return, so coming into markets where we were not previously helps us to use our human resources and assets productively, » he said. he declares
Southwest is also planning to add flights to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where it already serves William P Hobby Airport
Southwest Airlines, O’Hare International Airport, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, O’Hare
News from around the world – US – Southwest Airlines plans to add O service ‘Hare next year’ It’s been on our wish list for a long time ‘
