American Airlines wants to know you that it is committed to Chicago.
Asked at an investor conference about carrier’s plans in Windi City on Thursday, Chief Financial Officer Dewon May emphasized the importance of Chicago for American. Chicago’s O’har International Airport (Ord) was and is-its third largest hub, he repeatedly said.
Up to 2020 and Koronwirus epidemics, the carrier operated some 500 daily departure from the Midwest Airport.
“This year, we are moving back to Chicago,” said May. “We have a very large customer base … (and) We feel really good about development opportunities.”
American recently unveiled Seven new or returning routes From Chicago O’Here, Kuracao International Airport (CUR), Virginia, including Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) and St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). It is at the top of the long-hall This summer addition Like Naples International Airport (NAP) in Italy.
The airline will operate a average of 468 daily departure from O’Hera in June, July and August, schedule data from Aviation Analytics firm Sirium Show.
A long time hub
American has long claimed a hub in O’Hee. Since the early 1980s, it has competed fiercely with the hometown United Airlines for dominance at the airport – and the city – which includes a major role in the prestigious Chicago Holiday Movie, Home Alone.
But recent months have seen that airline officials should be particularly vocal about its Chicago appearance; He was one Major topics on the carrier’s most recent earnings call.
Prior to the epidemic, the American three hubs focused on growing, none of which were O’Hre.
daily newspaper
Award your inbox with tpg daily newspaper
Join more than 700,000 readers for exclusive deals from braking news, in-depth guides and TPG experts
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)-Remember “DFW 900” And “Cherlot 700 Plus“? – And Ronald Reagan Washington was Washington National Airport (DCA), as the officials said at that time, the most profitable locations of the airline. The increase in those cities would have more profit than adding flights to the entire airline, this thought was gone.
Rarely American officials have mentioned Chicago in those pre-political days.
Fight back
Now, however, the American is facing a physical threat to O’Here. It can be possible Lose six gates Finally this year, it signed with the Chicago Department of Aviation in 2018 under the terms of an agreement. The agreement, which also signed by United, distributes gates on the basis of departure mainly during the previous year.
This means that American’s Gate Count in O’Hee in 2026 can be determined by its schedule in 2024. Syium schedule suggests that it departs on an average 349 daily departure, and 388 departure during the extreme summer months of June, July and August.
For comparison, United showed average 481 daily departure from O’Ahre in 2024, and 496 departure during the summer months of June, July and August, showing Sirium data shows.
United, which stands to achieve the gate in O’Here next year, Advertised around the city It is “Chicago’s #1 airline” and has been introduced MileagePlus The situation corresponds to those who fly continuously.
Read more: American Airlines punches back in Chicago, O’He’s reconstruction in ‘fourth inning’
May said on Thursday that O’He’s recovery in O’He was obstructed by the lack of pilot of American which slowed down the recovery of its regional partners after the Kovid -19 epidemic.
“It came later as much as we liked,” he said about the reconstruction of American’s O’He Hub.
While May specifically refused to comment on the gate allocation process, she stated that American plans “their” property ” – or Gates – O’Hre asks to use it completely and grow there in the future.
Is American Prosecute Later this year, Chicago from rebuilt Gates in O’Hee. The case is pending.
Related reading:
