United Airlines announced it is boosting its service between South Bend International Airport (SBN) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), adding flights and introducing upgraded aircraft as part of a broader capacity expansion.
The airline, which currently operates six daily roundtrip flights on the route, will increase to seven daily roundtrips starting September 2, 2025, and to eight daily roundtrips on October 1, 2025. United says the additional service will offer business and leisure travelers greater flexibility and access to more than 180 destinations via its Chicago hub.
According to a statement from South Bend International Airport officials, beginning in October, half of United’s South Bend–Chicago schedule will feature the Bombardier CRJ-550 — “the world’s only 50-seat regional jet with true first-class seating.” The aircraft includes 10 United First seats, 20 Economy Plus seats, expanded legroom throughout, dedicated space for carry-on roller bags, and a self-serve refreshment center for first-class customers. Inflight Wi-Fi will be available by year-end. United plans to transition all flights on this route to dual-cabin aircraft in 2026.
Airport CEO Mike Daigle credited increasing traveler demand for SBN’s capacity growth. “With football season quickly approaching, this increased capacity provides fans with even more options to easily get to games and will remain after the season concludes,” Daigle said.
United’s Managing Director of Domestic Network Planning, Mark Weithofer, noted that the expansion also strengthens global connectivity. “This gives our customers not only greater access between the two cities, but also around the world – taking them to all the places they want to go,” he said.
Tickets for the additional flights are available at United.com.
