United Airlines CFO Takes Aim at American in Chicago Airport Fight

United is expanding its presence at Chicago O'Hare Airport and criticizing American Airlines' operations there.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

United Airlines is determined to expand its dominance at Chicago O'Hare Airport, with its CFO Mike Leskinen taking aim at American Airlines' operations there. Leskinen said American only has a "temporary" hub at O'Hare and that "everybody is switching from American to United." United is adding new routes and flights at O'Hare, while American has struggled to attract premium customers and reported an 80% drop in pre-tax profit for 2025 compared to the previous year.

Why it matters

Chicago's O'Hare Airport is a valuable hub for airlines due to its Midwest location and large metro population. The battle for dominance at O'Hare is important as airlines vie for premium passengers and profitable routes. United's aggressive expansion and criticism of American's performance highlights the high-stakes competition between the two carriers.

The details

United is planning to expand its presence at O'Hare, adding five new routes and increasing flights on existing routes to bring its total to 750 daily flights this summer - about 200 more than American. United's CFO said the airline "made a nice profit last year in Chicago," while estimating American is operating at a negative 9% margin at the airport. United is also working to acquire two gates at O'Hare through Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy proceedings, with a United executive saying this will provide "the flexibility we need to keep growing responsibly."

  • Last year, O'Hare saw more aircraft take off and land than any other US airport.
  • Late last month, United announced five new routes from O'Hare and said it would add additional flights on existing routes.
  • For 2025, American reported a pre-tax profit of $352 million, down 80% from the year before.

The players

Mike Leskinen

United Airlines' chief financial officer.

Omar Idris

United's vice president for O'Hare.

Scott Kirby

United Airlines' CEO.

American Airlines

A major airline that operates a hub at Chicago O'Hare Airport.

United Airlines

An American airline that is expanding its presence at Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Everybody is switching from American to United.”

— Mike Leskinen, United Airlines' chief financial officer (businessinsider.com)

“We're drawing a line in the sand. We are not going to allow them [American] to win a single gate at our expense in 2026.”

— Scott Kirby, United Airlines' CEO (businessinsider.com)

“Not only do we have a better hard product, but we have the schedule, and we have the connectivity, we have the clubs.”

— Mike Leskinen, United Airlines' chief financial officer (businessinsider.com)

What’s next

United is working to acquire two gates at O'Hare through Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy proceedings, which the airline says will provide "the flexibility we need to keep growing responsibly."

The takeaway

The battle for dominance at Chicago's O'Hare Airport highlights the high-stakes competition between major airlines like United and American. United's aggressive expansion and criticism of American's performance suggest the airline is determined to cement its leadership position at this critical hub.