Southwest abandons Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles

There will be fewer ways to fly to Chicago and Washington, DC, with Southwest Airlines this summer.

The Dallas-based airline will end service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Dulles International Airport (IAD) near Washington on June 4. announced on its website on Friday.

A Southwest spokesperson said both departures were part of the airline’s “ongoing efforts to refine its network.”

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The airline is in the midst of a major transformation aimed at increasing profitability that includes everything from seat assignments to collect fees and other revenue generating initiatives. And CEO Bob Jordan has hinted that more changes are coming, including first class seats, exclusive airport lounges and maybe even long-haul intercontinental flights.

Southwest executives said in January that the airline plans to increase capacity, measured by available seat miles, by just 1% or 2% year over year in the first quarter. They did not release a full forecast for 2026.

A 5-year experiment at ORD

Southwest started flying to ORD in 2021 as part of an 18-city expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, growth fell short of Southwest’s expectations and left four of the markets in 2024. Flights to ORD were drastically reduced, but the destination remained the same.

Jordan said in April 2024 that the flight cuts were motivated by financial reasons.

“When we look at our network, it really relates to areas that just don’t have a path to the level of financial performance that we need,” he said. “That’s really the basis of the decision.”

Fast forward to 2026, and ORD is a battleground for american airlines and united airlines. Airlines are adding flights at a furious pace to preserve gate space under the airport’s use-it-or-lose-it allocation policy. The additions have even forced the Federal Aviation Administration to intervene and limit flights on ORD this summer to avoid disruptive congestion.

Southwest’s departure has the potential to open its three doors at ORD for American and United.

Faced with competitive pressure at ORD and its own desire for high profits, Southwest has an easy option in Chicago: Midway International Airport (MDW). The airport is one of its largest bases and where it dominates; Scheduling data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows Southwest will operate more than 90% of departures from MDW in 2026.

Southwest in IAD

Southwest’s departure from IAD comes two decades after it first landed at the airport, Cirium schedules show. Initially, IAD served to balance the airline’s presence in the DC region which was, and still is, centered on its large base at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).

Then in 2012, following its merger with AirTran Airways, Southwest began flights to the popular Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). IAD service stagnated after that, with only one route, to Denver International Airport (DEN), consistent over the intervening 12 years, Cirium shows.

Today, Southwest maintains its large (and growing) base in BWI and is the second largest airline by seats in DCA after American Airlines.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority that operates IAD said they were “disappointed” that the airline was ending service.

“We hope Southwest returns to Dulles in the future,” the MWAA spokesperson added.

Options for travelers

Southwest is offering travelers scheduled to fly with Southwest to IAD or ORD after June 4 free flight changes to nearby airports or full refunds.

Travelers booked for IAD can change their flights to BWI, DCA, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) or Richmond International Airport (RIC) in Virginia.

And those booked to ORD can change their flights to MDW, Indianapolis International Airport (IND) or Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE).

Updated with comments from MWAA.