Southwest Airlines has announced it will cease operations at Washington Dulles International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport starting June 4, 2026. This decision affects all Southwest flights booked to and from these airports after this date, which will be canceled. Customers can receive refunds through the airline’s website or app.
The airline will continue to serve the Chicago and Washington, D.C. areas through other airports. Chicago Midway International Airport will remain a hub, while flights will also operate out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Southwest has a longstanding presence at Midway, having operated there for over 40 years, but found operations at O’Hare “challenging” due to congestion and new flight caps.
Employees affected by the change will have the opportunity to bid for open positions within the company. This move comes shortly after the Federal Aviation Administration discussed reducing flights at O’Hare with other airlines.
Southwest’s decision marks a strategic shift as it plans to launch a 31-route expansion, including new services to Anchorage from Denver and international flights to St. Maarten and San Jose, Costa Rica. The airline is focusing on “frontier” markets and secondary hubs, moving away from the challenges of major airports like O’Hare and Dulles.
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