Key Takeaways
• United Airlines leads O’Hare with about 600 daily flights; American Airlines follows with nearly 480 daily flights.
• Volaris is the top foreign airline, driven by strong Mexico-Chicago travel demand; Spirit and Frontier see rapid growth.
• Delta, Lufthansa, Air Canada, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines support key international links to Europe and Canada.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport serves as one of the main gateways for both domestic and international travelers in the United States 🇺🇸. In 2024, the airport reported more than 80 million passengers, which puts it near the top among the world’s busiest airports. Understanding which airlines handle the most passengers at this airport helps travelers, workers, and policy-makers see patterns in air travel, business decisions, and immigration flows.
This detailed analysis will look at the top airlines at Chicago O’Hare International Airport by passenger numbers. The data draws from public sources, including the City of Chicago Department of Aviation, industry analytics, and major news reports. It covers trends for the years 2024–2025. The airlines discussed include both domestic and international carriers, with special focus on United Airlines and American Airlines. Their operations shape how people travel in, out, and through Chicago, and affect the airport’s status as a major hub.
Summary of Key Findings
- United Airlines stands as the largest carrier at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, followed by American Airlines. Both have hub operations, offering several hundred daily flights.
- Delta Air Lines remains the third largest, maintaining a strong presence even without formal hub status.
- Low-cost carriers, including Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines, grew rapidly after the pandemic, reflecting travelers’ search for lower-cost fares.
- Volaris, a Mexican airline, is the top foreign carrier by available seats, driven by strong demand between Mexico 🇲🇽 and Chicago 🇺🇸.
- Lufthansa, Air Canada, British Airways 🇬🇧, and Turkish Airlines 🇹🇷 each play important roles in international travel, connecting Chicago to Europe, Canada 🇨🇦, and many global markets.
- Seasonal factors and new route launches can cause slight changes in rankings among international airlines each year.
The Top 10 Airlines at Chicago O’Hare by Passenger Traffic
A table below outlines the leading airlines by passenger volume at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The rankings consider reported seat capacity, number of flights, and public industry data for both 2024 and 2025.
(Note: Rankings among international airlines may shift year to year based on seasonal route schedules or newly added flights.)
Chart: Airline Market Share at O’Hare (2024 Estimate)
Imagine a pie chart showing the market share of each top airline:
- United Airlines: Takes up the largest slice, reflecting its position as the biggest carrier and main hub operator.
- American Airlines: Nearly as large, with a big presence as the main competitor.
- Delta Air Lines: Holds a smaller but still important portion.
- Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines: Each occupy growing sections, together holding more space than before the pandemic.
- Volaris, Lufthansa, Air Canada, British Airways, Turkish Airlines: Each appear as slim but important slices, showing the broad range of international connections.
This visual helps make clear that United Airlines and American Airlines are the two main players. Other airlines, both budget and international, also hold important spots that add to the overall options for travelers.
Why These Rankings Matter
People might ask why knowing which airlines carry the most passengers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport is important. The reasons include:
- Travel Choices: Travelers can expect the most options and connections from United Airlines and American Airlines, especially for domestic and transatlantic flights.
- Immigration Patterns: The number of seats and flights affects how many people can enter or leave the United States 🇺🇸 through Chicago, influencing patterns for work visas, tourists, and family visits.
- Business Decisions: Companies based at Chicago, or considering operations in the city, look at which airlines can move their workers or visitors efficiently.
- Airport Planning: The airport’s management relies on such data to plan for new gates, upgrades, and border control needs.
United Airlines at O’Hare
United Airlines remains the largest carrier at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. With nearly 600 flights per day, United connects Chicago to nearly every part of the country and many places overseas. United’s headquarters is also in Chicago.
The airline uses multiple terminals at O’Hare, offering:
- Extensive domestic flights covering all regions of the United States 🇺🇸
- International routes to Europe, Canada 🇨🇦, Mexico 🇲🇽, Asia, and South America
- Partnership flights, especially with Lufthansa and Air Canada, through the Star Alliance
As reported by VisaVerge.com, this large network means United Airlines serves as the main airline for immigrants, business travelers, and tourists starting their journeys from Chicago. The airline’s commitment to many daily flights creates constant movement of people through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at O’Hare. For travelers from abroad, United often represents their first experience with American air travel.
American Airlines at O’Hare
American Airlines also operates a main hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, with as many as 480 daily flights. This makes American the second biggest carrier at the airport.
Key features of American’s presence at O’Hare:
- Strong domestic connections, especially east and south
- Many flights to Europe, including London and Madrid
- Codeshare and partnership arrangements with other international airlines
American Airlines’ strong focus on business travelers also leads to frequent schedule adjustments. The company works to offer flights that match peak business times, such as early weekdays or holidays.
Delta Air Lines
Even without a formal hub, Delta Air Lines keeps a steady and strong presence at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. The airline offers many flights each day as part of its national network.
Delta usually serves travelers going from Chicago to:
- Key eastern U.S. cities, such as Atlanta and New York
- Popular vacation spots
- Connecting flights to international routes, through other Delta hubs
This service makes Delta an important option for both tourists and those traveling for work, especially when heading to cities not served directly by United Airlines or American Airlines.
Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines—Low-Cost Growth
Both Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines have rapidly grown their presence at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, which mirrors a wider trend across the United States 🇺🇸. Since the pandemic, these ultra-low-cost carriers have captured a larger share of travelers looking for the lowest possible fares.
- Spirit Airlines: Known for offering very low base fares, they have added new routes from Chicago in recent years and now handle more travelers than many other budget or foreign carriers.
- Frontier Airlines: Uses a similar low-cost model, which helps attract travelers who want to pay as little as possible and are willing to accept basic services.
The rapid growth of these airlines has made air travel more affordable for many, although checked bags and other extras often add cost for travelers.
Volaris—Chicago’s Bridge to Mexico
Volaris, a Mexican carrier, is now the largest foreign airline by available seats at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. This reflects the strong demand for travel between Chicago and many cities in Mexico 🇲🇽. There are important family, business, and tourist connections driving this demand.
Volaris offers:
- Direct flights to many Mexican cities
- Fares that appeal to both leisure and business travelers
- Seats that fill mainly with people visiting family, attending business meetings, or exploring Mexico
This focus on Mexico travel also influences immigration patterns, as Volaris brings large groups of visitors, returning residents, and new arrivals into Chicago, often for the first time.
Lufthansa and Air Canada—Star Alliance Powerhouses
Lufthansa and Air Canada both rank in the top 10 airlines by passengers at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, largely due to their ties to United Airlines via the Star Alliance.
- Lufthansa: Connects Chicago to major German and other European cities. Many business travelers and tourists use these flights, and Lufthansa’s presence supports easy transfers between the United States 🇺🇸 and Europe.
- Air Canada: Makes it simple for travelers to move between Chicago and Canadian cities such as Toronto or Montreal 🇨🇦. This helps with both business links and family visits, due to the close relationship between the two countries.
Both airlines benefit from close scheduling and shared terminal access with United Airlines, improving travel for their mutual customers.
British Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Other Major International Carriers
British Airways offers several daily flights to the United Kingdom 🇬🇧, making it a vital link between Chicago and London. Turkish Airlines takes travelers from Chicago to Istanbul 🇹🇷 and onward to many spots in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. These airlines, together with others like LOT Polish Airlines, Emirates, and Japan Airlines, add even more global reach.
While exact rankings may shift based on season or new routes, these carriers remain central to O’Hare’s role as an international gateway.
Trends and Changes Since the Pandemic
Chicago O’Hare International Airport has seen a few major changes in its airline rankings since the COVID-19 pandemic:
- Low-cost carriers have gained market share as many travelers look for cheaper airfare.
- Big international airlines have slowly restored previous routes but face seasonal ups and downs.
- Demand for direct flights to Mexico 🇲🇽 and Canada 🇨🇦 remains high, driving growth for Volaris and Air Canada.
These changes show the need for flexibility in airport planning and for airlines to adapt as traveler needs and immigration flows change.
Implications for Immigration and Travel Policy
The list of top airlines at Chicago O’Hare has practical effects on many groups:
- Immigrants and families: Airlines like Volaris, United, and Air Canada offer important ways for families to visit or settle in the United States 🇺🇸, reflecting real-life immigration trends.
- Employers and workers: Companies depend on reliable flights from United Airlines and American Airlines to move workers in and out of Chicago.
- Policy-makers and airport managers: Decision-makers use these airline rankings to predict when the airport might need more border officers, customs agents, or expanded passenger services.
Data Limitations and Methodology
The rankings rely on information about scheduled flights, seat capacity, and public industry reports. Exact passenger counts per airline are not made public by airlines or the airport, which is common for competitive reasons. Rankings can also change each year, depending on new routes and the travel season. To get full, official numbers—especially for smaller carriers or unusual travel patterns—the City of Chicago Department of Aviation offers detailed monthly and yearly data on their official statistics page.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways and Looking Ahead
Chicago O’Hare International Airport, as one of the world’s busiest, is shaped most by United Airlines and American Airlines, each offering hundreds of daily flights and connecting Chicago to the country and the world. Delta Air Lines, rising low-cost carriers, and big international airlines like Volaris, Lufthansa, and Air Canada round out the top ten. Their combined activities reflect changes in how Americans and international visitors travel for work, family, and leisure.
The continued growth of budget airlines and the steady presence of strong international carriers mean that Chicago O’Hare’s future as a key entry point for immigrants and travelers seems secure. Monitoring these airline trends will help travelers find the best connections and support the airport as a strong link in global mobility.
For travelers planning routes or companies looking at employee movement, staying aware of which airlines lead at Chicago O’Hare International Airport remains important. With the public and private data available, future trends should continue to show growth, changing market shares, and expanding choices.
For more aviation policies, airline forms, and travel information, official guidelines and updates can always be found at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website.
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Learn Today
Hub → An airport where an airline operates many flights, connecting passengers to various destinations through a central location.
Seat Capacity → The total number of seats airlines offer on flights, showing how much travel they can handle during a period.
Star Alliance → A global airline partnership allowing member airlines to cooperate on routes, schedules, and frequent flyer benefits.
Codeshare → A partnership where two airlines share the same flight, letting customers buy tickets from either airline for that flight.
Low-cost Carrier → An airline focused on offering cheaper fares, often by minimizing services and charging extra for baggage and amenities.
This Article in a Nutshell
Chicago O’Hare International Airport’s busiest airlines, led by United and American Airlines, shape travel, business, and immigration trends. Volaris drives Mexico connections, while low-cost carriers like Spirit and Frontier have rapidly grown. International giants maintain critical global links. Airline dominance at O’Hare affects routes, travel opportunities, and mobility for millions each year.
— By VisaVerge.com
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