1 min readBy Brandon Shaw
The Factors That Led To Southwest Airlines' Unsurvivability At Chicago & Houston's Largest Airports
Southwest held 1.9% of O'Hare and already owned Midway. The same pattern played out in Houston, and both operations are now gone.
By Brandon ShawZimbabwe
Southwest Airlines entered Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) on February 14, 2021, with 20 daily departures and returned to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) the same year after a 16-year absence. Both moves took advantage of pandemic conditions that had emptied gates at airports Southwest could not normally access. Neither lasted. IAH service ended on August 4, 2024, while O'Hare service ended June 4, announced alongside a simultaneous exit from Washington Dulles (IAD).
Follow the story
About this article
- Length
- 74 words · 1 min read
- Published
- October 12, 2026
- Byline
- Brandon Shaw
- Source
- Simple Flying