(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES) Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport has reached a milestone: as of September 21, 2025, the airport is hosting 17 European passenger airlines, returning to a level of transatlantic service not seen since 2018. Airport schedules show that O’Hare now matches its pre-pandemic high-water mark for Europe-based carriers, a change that points to stronger demand, more choice for travelers, and a rebound in long-haul flights after years of uneven recovery.
This number matters for both travelers and the region’s economy. More European airlines at O’Hare means more nonstop routes, tighter connections across alliances, and price competition that can bring fares down during busy seasons. It also signals that carriers see Chicago as a durable hub for both leisure and business traffic, even as fuel costs, aircraft deliveries, and pilot staffing remain tight across the industry.
Who’s flying to O’Hare in 2025
According to airport data and schedule filings, the 17 European airlines now operating or announced at O’Hare in 2025 are:
- Aer Lingus
- Air France
- Air Serbia
- Austrian
- British Airways
- Finnair (seasonal)
- Iberia
- Icelandair
- ITA Airways (seasonal)
- KLM
- LOT Polish
- Lufthansa
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
- Swiss
- TAP Air Portugal
- Turkish Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
This mix of year-round and seasonal flying reflects the typical Midwest travel curve—heavier in late spring through early fall—while keeping steady service to key hubs like London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and Paris throughout the year.
New, returning, and expanded services
Several carriers are new or returning to Chicago:
- Air Serbia resumed or launched Chicago–Belgrade flights, restoring a direct link to the Balkans.
- Finnair and ITA Airways expanded seasonal programs, adding capacity during summer peaks.
- Virgin Atlantic continues to grow the U.K. market from O’Hare, including service to London and Manchester.
Together, these moves help restore airline choice that faded during the pandemic shutdowns and the slow restart that followed.
Pandemic-era impact and recovery
The period between 2020 and 2022 was tough on transatlantic networks. Border rules shifted frequently, demand swung wildly, and many long-haul fleets sat idle. For O’Hare, the result was fewer European airlines and a heavier reliance on North American carriers to carry much of the load.
The return to 17 European airlines now brings the airport back to a level last seen in 2018, a useful marker for Chicago travelers who remember how wide the menu of nonstop options once felt.
Domestic carrier contribution: American Airlines
O’Hare’s recovery is not only about foreign carriers. American Airlines added new nonstop routes for summer 2025, including Naples and Madrid, operated by American but contributing to Chicago’s Europe map.
Key American statistics for summer 2025:
- Up to 480 daily flights from O’Hare
- 25% increase in seats compared to 2024
- 22% more departures compared to 2024
- American and its oneworld partners aim for up to 41 daily flights to 17 countries during peak season
This density helps fill partner flights, creates more connection choices, and strengthens transatlantic schedules.
Pipeline growth: HiSky and beyond
Romania-based HiSky has announced a Chicago–Bucharest route starting in June 2026. If it launches as planned, O’Hare would move to at least 18 European carriers next year, signaling more growth for eastern and southeastern Europe—regions with strong family and business ties to Chicago.
Infrastructure and operations
O’Hare’s physical footprint is keeping pace with growth under the O’Hare 21 program. The City of Chicago and partner airlines are pushing forward with the O’Hare Global Terminal and new satellite concourses.
Highlights of the plan:
- 2024 agreement prioritized the Global Terminal for earlier delivery and delayed one satellite to later phases to balance costs and near-term needs.
- First satellite concourse set for completion in 2028.
- Broader terminal buildout planned through 2030.
- Gate and space expansion: from 185 to 235 gates and over 3 million square feet of additional terminal space.
Passenger benefits will include shorter walks between alliance partners, more room in gate areas, and smoother connections between domestic and international flights. For airlines, the upgrades promise better use of wide-body gates and shared operational systems (baggage, security, lounges).
What travelers can expect
More European carriers bring practical changes for passengers:
- More nonstop city pairs reduce backtracking through coastal hubs.
- Seasonal service adds seats during summer months, which can ease price pressure.
- Alliances make it easier to connect on a single ticket across U.S. and European partners.
Practical cautions while construction continues:
- Ongoing construction may mean longer walks, shifting gate assignments, and occasional bottlenecks.
- Travelers should allow extra time for international departures and arrivals, especially during evening “rush hours” when many transatlantic flights depart in a short window.
Customs and border checks:
First-time visitors and returning residents can review U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrival procedures: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/know-before-you-visit/arrival-departure-procedures
- People from Visa Waiver Program countries should ensure their ESTA approval is current.
- Families and business travelers connecting onward within the U.S. should plan for time to re-check bags after customs unless their airline handles through-checks.
Recommended traveler checklist:
- Check whether your airline departs from a satellite concourse and how to reach it.
- Confirm that your ticket is on a single itinerary when connecting between a European carrier and a U.S. partner.
- During peak evening hours, arrive earlier than usual for security and passport control.
Economic and strategic impacts
The broader impact reaches beyond the terminal:
- More European airlines support tourism, trade, and academic exchange across the Midwest.
- Universities can recruit from a wider pool.
- Exporters gain extra cargo space via wide-body bellies.
- Companies can plan same-day meetings with earlier arrivals from Europe.
Airline strategy also matters. Several European carriers at O’Hare belong to major alliances—oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam—creating joint schedules and shared ticketing. As the Global Terminal brings partner airlines closer, passengers should see smoother transfers, for example between American and British Airways, or United and Lufthansa.
Route geography and service patterns
The list of European airlines at O’Hare covers a wide geographic spread:
- Core Western Europe hubs: London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Zurich
- Spain: Iberia connects Chicago to Madrid
- Portugal: TAP Air Portugal links to Lisbon and beyond
- Iceland: Icelandair offers flexible stopover options via Reykjavik
- Scandinavia: SAS supports travel to Nordic countries
- Central/Eastern Europe and Middle East reach: LOT Polish and Turkish Airlines through Warsaw and Istanbul
Service will continue to ebb and flow: seasonal airlines add summer capacity; some carriers may pause routes in winter or use smaller aircraft. Still, 2025 stands out for returning breadth of choice to pre-2019 levels despite ongoing industry pressures (aircraft delivery delays, fuel prices, labor tightness).
Policy, funding, and program compromises
From a policy angle, O’Hare’s growth feeds into local and federal aims to keep U.S. gateways competitive. The long-term O’Hare 21 rebuild focuses on shared spaces, sustainability targets, and flexibility for larger aircraft.
- Airlines pushed back on costs and timelines, but a 2024 compromise staged construction to ease near-term fee hikes while keeping the program moving.
- That staged approach matched the industry’s cautious mood while planning for future demand.
Analysis and outlook
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the return to 17 European airlines is a confidence marker for Chicago’s place in the transatlantic market. Scheduled growth by domestic carriers, combined with returning European brands, suggests healthy demand across visiting friends and relatives as well as corporate travel segments. Summer peaks are driving much of the added capacity.
The story does not end in 2025. With HiSky expected in 2026 and ongoing terminal work, O’Hare aims to remain among North America’s top gateways to Europe through the decade. If alliances keep building tight schedules at shared facilities and the city delivers key parts of the terminal plan on time, the next few years could bring even more routes—and possibly new players—into the Chicago market.
For now, the headline is simple: O’Hare has matched its 2018 mark for European carrier presence. Travelers get more choice, airlines gain better facilities, and Chicago strengthens its role on the transatlantic stage. As more planes push back each evening bound for Europe, that renewed energy is visible at the gates—and on arrivals boards the next morning.
This Article in a Nutshell
On September 21, 2025, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport reached 17 European carriers—returning to its 2018 level of transatlantic choice. The airline mix includes year-round and seasonal operators serving hubs such as London, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Paris, and reflects renewed demand for leisure and business travel. American Airlines expanded summer 2025 service with up to 480 daily flights and a 25% seat increase over 2024, bolstering connections across alliances. The O’Hare 21 modernization will add gates (185 to 235) and a Global Terminal, improving transfers but creating temporary construction disruptions. HiSky’s planned 2026 Bucharest route could raise the carrier count to 18, signaling further growth for eastern Europe links.
