Southwest Airlines is ending service at two major airports this summer, the Dallas-based carrier announced.
All service to, from, or through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Washington’s Dulles International Airport will end on June 4, 2026, according to a Southwest Airlines Travel Advisory.
A Southwest spokesperson said the decision is part of the airline’s “ongoing efforts to refine its network,” according to The Points Guy. The exits come as the carrier pursues a broad overhaul to improve profitability, including new seat assignments, bag fees, and other revenue initiatives.
CEO Bob Jordan has signaled possible future additions such as first-class seats, airport lounges, and long-haul international flights.
Southwest said it plans to grow capacity by only 1%-2% year over year in the first quarter, but has not released a full 2026 forecast.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
The airline began flying to O’Hare in 2021 as part of an 18-city expansion amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, in 2024, it exited four other markets as part of that push and sharply reduced O’Hare flights. Jordan said in April 2024 that the financial results drove the cuts. “As we look at our network, it really relates to the areas that — just don’t have a path to the level of financial performance that we need,” he said. “That’s really the basis for the decision.”
O’Hare has since become a focus for American Airlines and United Airlines, which are rapidly adding flights. Southwest’s departure could free up its three gates for those carriers.
Southwest Airlines will continue to dominate Chicago service from its much larger base at Midway International Airport, where it is projected to handle more than 90% of departures next year.
Dulles International Airport (IAD)
Southwest’s Dulles service, which began about two decades ago to balance its Washington-area presence, has stagnated since the 2012 merger with AirTran Airways. The carrier shifted focus to its large base at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where it is now the second-largest carrier by seats after American.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles, said the organization was “disappointed” by the exit.“We hope Southwest will return to Dulles in the future,” the spokesperson added, per The Points Guy.
Travelers with bookings involving O’Hare or Dulles on or after June 4 will be affected. Flights before that date are unchanged and require no action.
Affected customers with flights booked for June 4 or afterward involving IAD or ORD have two options:
(1) They can rebook or fly standby to nearby alternate airports within 14 days of the original travel date at no change in airfare.
Chicago-area alternatives are Midway, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in Wisconsin, and Indianapolis International Airport.
Washington-area alternatives are Reagan National, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, Philadelphia International Airport, and Richmond International Airport in Virginia.
(2) They can request a full refund for the unused ticket — even if it was nonrefundable — plus any optional fees such as Extra Legroom or Priority Boarding for the canceled segments.
Customers booked on Getaways by Southwest vacation packages must call 1-833-SWA-GTWY (833-792-4899) for assistance. Most other travelers can make changes online or via the airline’s mobile app.
