United, American Airlines compete for dominance at Chicago O'Hare

An expansion at O'Hare has awarded United six additional gates, expected to enhance its capacity and introduce new destinations. Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer, described the expansion's importance for continued growth: "Our current facilities [in Chicago] are very full, and we know people want to fly in peak periods so these six gates will allow us to continue to execute on the United Next plan... We've been very consistent in our strategy here in Chicago, and as a result of that, we've got the six gates, and we're going to continue to grow. We think the economics of the hub look really darn good right now."

American Airlines, responding to United's expansion, expressed dissatisfaction with the reallocation of gates at O'Hare. It issued a statement to TPG: "American is committed to keeping O'Hare competitive, as our presence yields more extensive flight schedules for our Chicagoland customers and travelers from across the world, making the city a more desirable destination for business development. That's why we're rejecting the Chicago Department of Aviation's (CDA) improper trigger of the reallocation of gates at O'Hare — it's not only a violation of the agreement signed in 2018, but it stifles the competitive essence of the dual-hub by inhibiting our continued growth."

The ongoing negotiations and campaigns underline the competitive nature of the airline industry in Chicago, with both United and American seeking to secure their shares of the market.