The airline is adding regional airfields across the United States to increase its domestic coverage to smaller airports in key locations. The ten new routes will also be complemented by added flight frequency to several popular spots in North America and the Caribbean.
Raising The Bar At ORD
United operates over 500 daily flights to 157 airports across the US from ORD, 167 with the newly added destinations. The airline serves 48 airports from Chicago that no other airline offers flights to. Volume isn’t the only upgrade at ORD. United has also made investments in its premium cabin products and lounge spaces at Chicago. The fleet based at ORD has also gotten cabin interior updates recently as well.
United offers 45 daily nonstop flights to 39 international destinations from ORD, including Europe, Asia, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The nexus of domestic and international options at ORD makes it possible to seamlessly hop on a flight in Monterey and, with one stop, find yourself in Europe just hours later.
United plans to have two Starlink antennas on each Boeing 737-800 aircraft, with the goal of installing nearly 2,940 antennas across its entire fleet. Starlink Wi-Fi began rolling out in May 2025 and offers speeds high enough for streaming and gaming. It is a free service for United MileagePlus members. David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer, said in a recent press release:
“Whether it’s catching a live game, streaming an award show or working, United customers won’t miss a beat when they’re onboard a Starlink-equipped flight.”
United’s New Portfolio
The newly added direct destinations, as announced by Patrick Quayle of UA in a LinkedIn post, are spread out from coast to coast. These routes are all brand new from O’Hare and reinforce the airline’s commitment to offer the best and most comprehensive service at ORD. United is dubbed Chicago’s “hometown” airport for its deep roots and huge presence at O’Hare. Below is the list of new nonstop destinations being added.
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New destinations from ORD: |
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Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Municipal Airport (SBA) |
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Monterey, CA: Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) |
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Eugene, OR: Eugene Airport (EUG) |
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Rochester, MN: Rochester International Airport (RST) |
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Marquette, MI: Sawyer International Airport (MQT) |
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Wausau, WI: Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA) |
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Paducah, KY: Barkley Regional Airport (PAH) |
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Lynchburg, VA: Lynchburg Regional Airport (LYH) |
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St. George, UT: St. George Regional Airport (SGU) |
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Idaho Falls, ID: Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) |
United will also increase the daily departures to six popular destinations already on the network. That includes South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island Airport (HHH) and Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) in Halifax, Canada.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in Florida, and Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Idaho will also get increased service. More departures will also be scheduled for Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) in the Bahamas, as well as Aruba’s Queen Beatrix International Airport (AUA).
Going All In On The Windy City
United was recently awarded five more gates at O’Hare, where it holds over 40% of the total market share at the airport. The total between terminals one and two is now over 100 gates. Every day, United Airlines and United Express operate a combined 560 daily flights from ORD, which transports an average of 47,000 flyers a day.
There are over 17 million travelers hosted by UA at O’Hare every year. The airport features four UA clubs and one United Polaris lounge in the 950,000 square feet of space under the purview of the airline. United has also invested in an $8.7 billion capital program that will increase gate capacity, add new terminal space, and install state-of-the-art technology and amenities throughout the airport.