Major Overhaul Sees Southwest Airlines Departing from O’Hare & Dulles
Southwest Airlines has officially ceased all flight operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport as of today, June 4, 2026. This marks a pivotal shift in the carrier’s network strategy, a move that CEO Bob Jordan refers to as “the most ambitious transformation in Company history“.
The Dallas-based airline is withdrawing from both major airports following a five-year experiment that did not yield the anticipated financial results. Southwest initiated its O’Hare service in 2021 as part of a pandemic-era expansion, but was met with fierce competition from American and United Airlines at the bustling hub. The carrier will now concentrate solely on Chicago Midway International Airport, where it operates over 90% of departures.
Passengers with bookings from today onwards have been offered rebooking options to alternate airports. For Chicago-area travel, these include:
- Midway
- Milwaukee
- Indianapolis
For Washington-area travel, options include:
- Reagan National
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Philadelphia
- Richmond
The airline is also offering full refunds, even for non-refundable tickets.
This withdrawal is part of Southwest’s broader transformation which includes:
- Assigned seating (launched January 2026)
- Bag fees
- Extra legroom options
- Potentially first-class seats and airport lounges
Management anticipates these changes to generate over $1 billion in incremental revenue by 2026, with the carrier projecting adjusted EPS guidance of at least $4.00 for the year—a 300%+ increase from 2025.