Southwest Airlines intends to begin flying out of O’Hare Airport by the middle of 2021, the airline announced Monday.
The airline is in the early stages of securiting gate locations, space, flight schedules and prices at O’Hare. The expansion won’t cause any changes in service at Midway, which is among Southwest’s busiest airports, Southwest representative Dan Landson said.
Southwest has flown out of Midway Airport since 1985 and has more than 4,800 Chicago-based employees. Adding service at O’Hare will not necessarily mean the airline will be hiring more employees, Landson said.
Southwest also plans to add flights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, where it already serves William P. Hobby Airport and employs nearly 4,000 people.
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in a news release the expansion “furthers our commitment to both cities as we add service to share Southwest’s value and hospitality with more leisure and business travelers.”
