Quantcast

Chicago O'Hare becomes busiest airport for regional jet flights

Routes 360 Headlines: Key Stories Of The Week (W/C October 20, 2025)
LATAM CEO: New Aircraft Mean New Routes, Engine Woes Remain A Concern
Boeing wins FAA approval to hike 737 MAX production to 42 planes per month
IATA Highlights Critical Priorities for Aviation Safety and Operations
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 22, 2025)
First new Qantas Airbus jets come with one toilet for every 90 economy passengers – worse than Jetstar, Scoot and Ryanair
Breeze Airways becomes the first new US flag carrier in a decade — just as rival Spirit fights its 2nd bankruptcy
Airport runway close calls spur hopes for wider adoption of cockpit alert technology
Family sues American Airlines over deadly crash near National Airport
United Airlines briefly grounds all flights in US, Canada for second time in 2 months
2025 Air Canada flight attendants strike
United Airlines lifts brief ground stop after tech issue prompts FAA halt
Spirit Airlines preparing to furlough one-third of its flight attendants
‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘blackmail’: Ryanair’s feud with Spain
Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
Qantas’ milestone move for huge, new planes
Chicago O'Hare becomes busiest airport for regional jet flights
Policy
Webp received 382964148245461
Chicago O'Hare International Airport | Official Website

Chicago O'Hare International Airport has been identified as the world's busiest hub for regional jet movements, outperforming more than 1,100 airports globally that handle this type of aircraft. According to Cirium Diio data, O'Hare will see an average of 1,068 regional jet (RJ) takeoffs and landings daily from April to September 2025. This figure accounts for roughly 10% of RJ services worldwide, underscoring O'Hare's critical role in driving connectivity for its main carriers, American Airlines and United Airlines.

Six airlines will deploy regional jets at O'Hare during this period. American Eagle leads with an average of 520 daily RJ movements, followed by United Express with 498. Other airlines include Contour, Denver Air Connection, Delta Connection, and Air Canada Express. Altogether, regional jets will comprise 45% of O'Hare's total 2,386 aircraft movements during these months.

Though O'Hare may not rank first in passenger numbers or seat availability, its high frequency of flights underlines its importance. The airport's average of 125 seats per flight is comparatively lower than other major US hubs, primarily due to its reliance on regional jets.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

American Eagle, operating under several regional affiliates, will contribute nearly half of O'Hare's RJ movements, making it the airline's third-busiest hub after Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte. The majority of Eagle's movements involve the Embraer 170 model, with flights extending to 113 airports and averaging 381 nautical miles.

United Express, facilitated by carriers such as SkyWest, GoJet, and Republic, also sees O'Hare as its primary hub for RJ services, with significant use of the three-class, 50-seat CRJ550. The airline's operations at O'Hare involve 119 destinations, averaging a stage length of 372 nautical miles.

O'Hare's dominating share of RJ activity supports dynamic connectivity for American and United, reinforcing its strategic significance in regional air transportation.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network for 2026, with plans to introduce service to two new cities and launch 13 new or returning routes.

Oct 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025

United Airlines has announced it will add 10 new destinations from its Chicago O'Hare International Airport hub starting next year.

Oct 25, 2025

The partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, known as Blue Sky, has officially launched.

Oct 25, 2025