Derek Martin announces new Erie-Chicago air service coming in 2026
Daily service between the two cities will begin in May.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Westbound air service from Erie will resume in 2026.
American Airlines will offer daily flights to and from Chicago beginning in May.
“It will be a opportunity for business and leisure travelers heading west,” Erie International Airport Executive Director Derek Martin said Dec. 18 in announcing the service. Travelers will be able to connect to more destinations from Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
American Airlines currently provides daily service between Erie and Charlotte, North Carolina. The new Erie-Chicago service is among 15 routes that American Airlines will add in 2026. More than 500 American flights will depart from O’Hare next summer.
“American is proud to offer unmatched connectivity across the United States,” Brian Znotins, the airline’s senior vice president of network and schedule planning, said in a statement Dec. 18. “We’re providing local residents one-stop access to seal business deals, take a dream vacation with friends or family and enjoy soccer matches on the global stage.”
‘A signal of Erie’s upward trajectory’
There have been no flights between Erie and Chicago since June 2023, when United Airlines ended the service.
The new American Airlines service will help the region grow, said Brandon Mendoza, president and CEO of the Erie Regional Chamber.
“Today’s announcement is more than a new flight, it’s a signal of Erie’s upward trajectory,” Mendoza said. “Direct service to Chicago opens doors for our businesses, strengthens our competitiveness and enhances the quality of life for people across the region.”
The Erie Regional Chamber created the Fly Erie Fund in 2023 to offer incentives to airlines to serve Erie. The new Chicago service is not tied to a minimum revenue guarantee, but the fund has had broader, measurable results, Mendoza said.
“By reducing overall cost-per-enplanement and strengthening the airport’s value proposition for carriers, the fund has helped make Erie a more competitive and viable market for expanded routes,” Mendoza said.
Flight details
Flights from Chicago O’Hare will arrive in Erie at 11:15 p.m. beginning on May 21.
Flights to Chicago will leave Erie at 6:40 a.m. beginning on May 22.
The nonstop service will be aboard 65- to 76-seat regional jets.
Tickets for the flights will be available beginning Dec. 22 on the airline website and mobile app.
Also on the horizon for 2026
Breeze Airways, which offers Erie service to Orlando and Tampa, Florida, will offer a third weekly flight to Orlando beginning Feb. 17.
The Tuesday flights will continue until April 28.
Breeze currently offers Wednesday and Saturday service between the two cities.
Contact Valerie Myers at vmyers@gannett.com.