Two Major Airlines in 'Turf War' at Chicago Airport
Air travel in the United States hasn't been the best in 2025, but the true test is set to begin in just a matter of weeks.
The summer travel season will begin in earnest with Memorial Day, and the amount of families and people traveling around the nation will only increase as summer vacation begins.
One of the biggest airports in the country transits thousands of passengers each day, but a growing dispute between two major airline brands could pose even more problems for an embattled American air travel industry.
According to Yahoo Finance, American Airlines and United Airlines are each fighting for passengers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
American sued the city of Chicago this month after a plan was revealed to allow United to have more gates. American argues that this decision reduces its footprint, saying that competition between the brands would lead to more flights and lower fares.
“United’s long-term plan for O’Hare envisions no place for American,” the airline said in its complaint.
American may be fighting an uphill battle at O'Hare. United is based out of Chicago and considers itself to be the official airline of the city. United also holds naming rights to the home of the Bulls and Blackhawks, the United Center on the city's South side.
A massive sign greeting arrivals to the airport proudly shows United as “Chicago’s #1 Airline," with another sign displaying "The Rest” as incoming drivers reach other airline terminals.
In an effort to combat United's aggressive push, American has highlighted destinations like Naples, Italy - a city United does not offer direct flights to from O'Hare.
The competition has benefitted travelers, as the average fare for a domestic flight at O'Hare is down three percent from the same time last year.
American also plans to add new flights to the Caribbean and Central America this summer, allowing travelers to get directly to their desired destination without the need to board a cruise.
We'll see which airline can emerge victorious at O'Hare - and around the country - as travelers prepare to hit the skies this summer all across America.