United Airlines is broadening its operations in Chicago. After securing five new gates at O'Hare International Airport through the city's gate reallocation process, the carrier announced plans to launch 10 new domestic routes beginning in spring 2026. The move reinforces O'Hare's role as a key hub for United and shows how smart planning and timing can open the door to new growth.

The expansion is the outcome of the "use it or lose it" lease agreement O'Hare signed with United and American Airlines in 2018. While American Airlines just launched a new route from O'Hare to Mexico City , United took a broader approach, leveraging its newly earned gates to expand across ten domestic destinations. By maximizing its gate usage, United earned additional space and quickly turned advantage into

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