Southwest Airlines to discontinue service to 2 major US airports

PHOENIX — Arizonans will soon lose access to two major U.S. airports on Southwest Airlines after the carrier announced it is discontinuing service to them.

The airline announced Friday that it will no longer offer flights to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport starting June 4.

Southwest said the move is part of an ongoing effort to refine its network. It added that operating at Chicago O’Hare has been “challenging.”

Flyers in the Valley will still be able to travel to Chicago and Washington D.C. using Southwest, but they will have to fly into Chicago Midway International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The airline noted that it offers service to more than 80 destinations from Chicago Midway, including 15 markets it served from Chicago O’Hare.

In addition, it will offer up to 271 combined departures to 79 nonstop destinations from BWI Marshall Airport and Reagan National Airport.

According to Southwest, employees affected by the service discontinuations will have the opportunity to bid for open positions within the company.

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