Southwest Airlines to discontinue flights to Chicago’s O’Hare airport in June, continue service to Midway

CHICAGO (WLS) — Southwest Airlines said Friday it will discontinue service to Chicago’s O’Hare airport in June.

Any Southwest flight booked after June 4 will be canceled, the company said in a letter to customers. Those customers will be given rebooking or refund options.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“Operating at Chicago O’Hare continues to be challenging,and we are confident we can serve Chicagoland through Chicago Midway.,” Southwest said in a statement. “Our robust service from our longtime base at Midway will continue to serve more than 80 destinations, including the 15 markets we served from O’Hare. Southwest remains committed to providing its signature hospitality to our Customers in Chicagoland.”

Southwest has a 41-year history at Midway, the company said.

They operate up to 244 daily departures and serve over 80 nonstop destinations, including all 15 destinations currently served from O’Hare.

Affected employees will have the opportunity to bid for open positions across the Southwest network, including at Midway.

The announcement comes amid the Federal Aviation Administration and other airlines discussing reducing flights at O’Hare this summer.

In the letter to customers, Southwest said they are also ending service to Dulles International Airport in the Washington, D.C. area.