American, United expanding services at Chicago O’Hare

Media reports said that American Airlines is expanding its services from Chicago O’Hare. The airline announced it will be launching nonstop flights to several new destinations, which includes Ontario, Greenville, Greensboro, Colorado Springs, Boise, Birmingham and Appleton. The airline will also be launching seasonal flights to California as well, but for summer only. It may be known that American Airlines had recently announced the launch of new flights from Chicago O’Hare to Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Montana and Bozeman.

United Airlines has already indicated that it will not take things lying down and would be competing with American Airlines head on. The airline had earlier in late February this year announced its expansion from Chicago O’Hare in a big way. The airline launched flights to many new destinations including Santa Rosa, Rochester, Columbia, and Champaign. Apart from introducing flights to three Midwest destinations, United Airlines said that its existing flights from Chicago O’Hare to Tuscon, Spokane, Reno and Charlottesville have also been increased.

Robert Isom, President of American Airlines, has expressed his happiness over the new expansion at Chicago O’Hare. He said, “The ability to provide connectivity to small cities with big ones is our greatest strength. We will continue to build up on our strength and continue to connect many small communities with the rest of the United States.”

Meanwhile, Scott Kirby, President of United Airlines, said, “The fact that the launch of 22 new routes across the United States from Chicago O’Hare International Airport amply demonstrates that we have changed our strategy and are on the offensive. It is quite regrettable that United Airlines had in the past allowed American Airlines to encroach on its Chicago O’Hare routes. We have learnt our lessons well and the company is not going to repeat the same mistake, but would instead be moving forward quite aggressively thus making up for the losses.”