United Airlines expects its busiest summer ever at Chicago O’Hare in 2026, operating up to 750 flights per day – the largest schedule ever flown by any airline at the airport and around 200 more daily flights than its nearest competitor. The airline will serve 222 nonstop destinations from ORD, including 47 international and 175 domestic cities, reinforcing O’Hare’s role as the premier hub in the Midwest.
The summer schedule includes five new nonstop routes to Midwestern cities such as Champaign/Urbana, Kalamazoo, Lansing, La Crosse and Bloomington/Normal, alongside expanded service to more than 80 existing destinations. United will also add temporary daily flights to Guadalajara in June to support major international soccer events, completing nonstop service from Chicago to all 16 host cities.
Operationally, United highlights its strong performance at ORD, leading major carriers in on-time arrivals in 2025, with significantly fewer cancellations than competitors. To support growth and reliability, the airline plans to hire around 2,500 additional employees at O’Hare by year-end.
Customers will benefit from expanded lounge access, upgraded aircraft interiors with seatback screens and Bluetooth, and increasing availability of free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members. United is also continuing to roll out technology enhancements such as Connection Saver, touchless bag drop and security, and advanced app-based airport navigation, underscoring its strategy to pair network growth with a smoother, more reliable customer experience.