1310 ET - The battle between American Airlines and United Airlines for Chicago could have impacts felt beyond O'Hare, Melius Research analyst Conor Cunningham writes in a note. American, which reported earnings Tuesday, says it hopes to get back to pre-pandemic levels of 500 to 550 flights daily out of ORD; United said the same morning that it's targeting 750 flights a day from Chicago this summer, and has vowed not to cede any more gates to American. "The biggest risk we see to American in 2026 is a full-on fare war in Chicago that gradually impacts other highly competitive markets," Cunningham writes. "If history is any guide, competitive skirmishes are rarely contained." Other airlines could reduce supply in Chicago as American and United become dominant players, he adds. (elias.schisgall@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 27, 2026 13:10 ET (18:10 GMT)
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