Court Blocks American’s Bid to Halt O’Hare Gate Shift

A federal judge has denied American Airlines’ request to delay the transfer of four gates at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to United Airlines, clearing the way for the reallocation to proceed on October 1.

American sought a preliminary injunction, arguing the move violated a 2018 agreement between the carrier, United, and the City of Chicago. The court, however, rejected the request, stating that the agreement still stands but did not justify blocking the gate transfer.

In a statement, American expressed disappointment with the ruling but maintained that the reallocation breaches the 15-year deal signed in 2018. The carrier said the agreement was meant to ensure fair competition and that any reassessment of gate assignments should not occur before April 2027. “The premature trigger of the gate reallocation will give one airline a competitive advantage,” American argued, while reiterating its commitment to Chicago and protecting competition at O’Hare.

United Airlines celebrated the ruling, with President Brett Hart telling employees the decision was not only a legal win but also a “powerful validation” of United’s growth strategy in Chicago. With the five new gates gained in the reallocation, United said it is positioned to expand further and meet rising passenger demand.

According to schedule data, United currently holds the largest share of capacity at O’Hare at 48.16%, followed by American at 32.78%. Delta is the next-largest competitor with 3.47%, while all other airlines account for less than 5% each.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com