United Airlines launches two new routes, intensifying turf war between Chicago and American Airlines

Raise your hands if Erie, Pa., and Johnson City, Tenn., are at the center of a turf war between two of the nation’s largest airlines.

Few of you probably saw this coming, but that’s exactly what happened after United Airlines abruptly added the two cities to its network on Friday, just a day after both cities were included in a broader 16-route expansion plan by rival American Airlines.

Of course, United and American aren’t actually competing over Erie and Johnson City, but over Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), where both operate a massive connecting hub at the fourth-busiest airport in the United States.

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United and American have sparred this year over access to ORDs, where gates are in high demand and that demand could severely limit an airline’s ability to grow if gates cannot be found. Both Manchester United and American Airlines claim they should have access to the new gates that are now online. But the back-and-forth appears to have sparked a turf war, with hometown United trying to solidify its lead and American trying to close the gap.

So how do Erie and Johnson City play starring roles in the battle for the Windy City?

Yesterday, American Airlines added three new routes from O’Hare as part of its broader expansion. Those three new Chicago routes?

• Erie International Airport (ERI)
• Tri-Cities Airport (TRI), near Johnson City
• Lincoln, Nebraska Airport (LNK)

Just 24 hours later, United unveiled its own expansion plans, covering all three cities American Airlines included in its ORD additions.

United will begin operating ERI-ORD flights on June 1, adding the Pennsylvania city back to its route map for the first time since May 2023. The airline will make its debut on June 8 at TRI, which also serves the eastern Tennessee cities of Kingsport and Bristol.

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United also appears to be eyeing American Airlines at LNK, which will connect it to three hubs next year, including ORD. In its statement announcing the additions to ERI and TRI, United also said it would add a fifth daily flight to existing service between ORD and LNK.

“With our steady growth at O’Hare, reaching nearly 650 daily departures during peak summer travel, we are building Chicago’s unparalleled global network strength,” Mark Weithofer, United’s managing director of domestic network planning, said in a statement, almost certainly referring to American Airlines.

There’s a lot more to come in 2026 as an emerging turf war unfolds between United and American Airlines. But for now, customers are likely to benefit from additional flights and routes, and fares could be lower as Chicago’s two major airlines compete for market share.

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