Overview
- United agreed to purchase Spirit’s gates G12 and G14 at Chicago O’Hare for about $30.2 million, with court approval scheduled for Feb. 24.
- The move follows United’s recent surge to roughly 750 daily departures at O’Hare, a strategy to secure gate access under prior-year flying rules.
- American previously bought two O’Hare gates from Spirit in a separate transaction reported at around $30 million.
- American leaders cite Chicago’s importance for loyalty sign-ups and co‑brand credit card revenue, pointing to recent double‑digit growth in enrollments and card acquisitions.
- Profitability at O’Hare is contested, with United’s Scott Kirby alleging large losses for American, an internal American figure showing a quarterly loss, and a Deutsche Bank analysis estimating roughly 9% net margin.