Chicago has reassigned gates at O’Hare, awarding United five more gates under its 2025 process and leaving American unhappy and in court. The city’s move would bring United to 95 gates and American to 59, with the changes slated to take effect as soon as October 1, 2025, unless a judge intervenes. At the same time, both airlines are loading bigger schedules: United says it will fly up to 592 daily flights from O’Hare in October and add 50 more flights in November, while American plans up to 480 daily flights this year with 25% more seats and 22% more departures than last year.
What changed with gates
The Chicago Department of Aviation updated O’Hare’s gate allocation this summer using a formula tied to recent flying. The result: United gains five gates and American loses ground, a shift the city says reflects how often each carrier used its gates. American is suing to halt the transfer, arguing the move violates its lease and hurts growth plans. A Daily Herald update notes American is seeking an injunction before the Oct. 1 hand-off. If the court doesn’t pause the change, United’s additional space would begin then.
Where the lawsuit stands
American filed suit in May, later moving the fight to local court. United was allowed to intervene and has called the case meritless. Court filings and industry reports indicate the dispute centers on whether Chicago triggered the “gate redetermination” too early under O’Hare’s lease.
How the schedules stack up
- United: The carrier projects its busiest fall from Chicago, with up to 592 daily flights in October and 50 additional flights in November to warm-weather markets like Phoenix, Austin, and Orlando.
- American: The airline says it will run up to 480 daily flights from O’Hare this year, with 25% more seats and 22% more departures than last year. It’s also shifting to larger dual-class aircraft on every ORD flight, boosting premium capacity.
Bigger picture at O’Hare
Chicago just broke ground on Concourse D, a new $1.3B satellite concourse next to Terminal 1 that will connect to United’s Concourse C by a pedestrian bridge. The project includes 19 gates with flexible layouts, more than 20,000 sq ftof lounge space, and 30,000 sq ft of retail. The city targets completion in 2028 as part of the long-running O’Hare 21modernization.
Why it matters
More gates and thicker schedules usually mean more choice for travelers and sharper fare competition at one of the nation’s busiest hubs. O’Hare handled more than 8 million passengers in June 2025, the highest June total in its history, and remains among the top U.S. airports by aircraft movements—so even small changes move a lot of people.