United Airlines confirmed intentions to increase flights at Chicago O’Hare to prevent rival American Airlines from acquiring additional gates and expanding presence. CEO Scott Kirby revealed during a 2025 fourth-quarter earnings call that the company would add as many flights as necessary to maintain its gate count. O’Hare functions as a hub for both carriers, with United holding 50.32pc of weekly capacity and American at 30.49pc. Together with affiliates, they handled 77.7pc of commercial passengers in 2024, according to the City of Chicago Department of Aviation. Kirby claimed United generated approximately €460m in revenue at the airport in 2025, while American incurred similar losses.
Kirby projected American’s losses could reach €920m in 2026, disputing claims that O’Hare can sustain two major hub airlines. American CEO Robert Isom countered that the airport supports both operations and rejected the financial characterisation. United maintains a 22pcage-point advantage among Chicago-based customers and 38pcage points among business travellers. In 2025, United gained five gates while American lost four, a decision upheld despite legal challenges. United anticipates American receiving three gates in 2026 under an allocation review.
Scott Kirby shared “In 2026, we are drawing a line in the sand. We are not going to allow them to win a single gate at our expense. We are going to add as many flights as are required to keep our gate count the same in Chicago.”
Robert Isom shared that O’Hare can support two major hub airlines and disputed Kirby’s characterisation of its financial results at the airport.
