CHICAGO (WGN) — United Airlines has won the latest skirmish in the battle for supremacy at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
A judge rejected American Airlines’ efforts to block United from taking control of five more gates, expanding its dominance.
“This decision is more than a legal victory, it is a powerful validation of United’s growth, investment and incredible workforce here in our hometown of Chicago,” United Airlines president Brett Hart said in a statement.
American argued the gate expansion was part of a concerted effort by United to “marginalize” competition and a violation of its lease agreement with the Chicago Department of Aviation. WGN Investigates reported on the “air war” at O’Hare in May.
“The premature trigger of the gate reallocation will give one airline a competitive advantage from the start; but we remain committed to Chicago and to preserving competition at ORD to ensure that local travelers — as well as those who connect at ORD from throughout our global network — will continue to benefit from lower fares and more choices that come from two competing carriers,” American Airlines’ Chicago-based spokesperson Gianna Urgo said.
The bitter battle – which has included a few snarky stabs from United CEO Scott Kirby – will only get more intense as Chicago’s big airport expands. The city broke ground on a new 19-gate satellite concourse in August that will be tethered to United’s Concourse C; however, Chicago Department of Aviation officials haven’t said which airlines will have access to those new gates.
United focused on its O’Hare hub during its post-COVID comeback while American rebuilt its network in the southern United States. However, American has more recently added flights, premium seats and coveted widebody jet service in Chicago. American says it operated 20 percent more flights at O’Hare this summer compared to last summer.
While United’s CEO reportedly recently hinted that his airline’s dominance was so great American might “de-hub” from Chicago, an American spokesperson says the airline is expanding, not retreating, from O’Hare.
United said it will take control of the new gates on October 1, coinciding with its busiest month yet at O’Hare. The airline reports it recently hired more than 2,000 new local employees, bringing its Chicago workforce to 18,000.
Chicago Department of Aviation spokesperson Kevin Bargnes said: “Ensuring that gates are allocated effectively is essential to keeping O’Hare competitive, fostering growth, and providing travelers with more choices and better service.”
United operates 48 percent of departures at O’Hare while American claims 35 percent of O’Hare take-offs. Both reported a record number of flights to Chicago this past summer.
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