American Airlines Adds Tokyo Route From Chicago

American Airlines announced on Wednesday the addition of three new routes from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), including a daily flight to Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) scheduled to commence on March 27, 2027. This service represents American's return to the ORD-NRT market after a seven-year absence, utilizing a Boeing 787-9 aircraft configured with 30 Flagship Business Class suites. The flight will operate as part of a joint venture with Japan Airlines, facilitating onward connections to 12 Asian destinations beyond Tokyo, such as Bangkok, Delhi, and Singapore.

In addition to the international service, American Airlines will introduce two new domestic routes from ORD. Service to Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO) in Virginia will operate twice daily on an Embraer E170, beginning November 1. Flights to Ontario International Airport (ONT) in California will run daily on a Boeing 737, starting November 7. These expansions occur amidst significant competition with United Airlines at ORD, where both carriers have recently adjusted schedules due to Federal Aviation Administration flight caps aimed at mitigating congestion.

United Airlines also serves CHO and ONT from ORD and is set to launch its own ORD-NRT flights in October, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. All Nippon Airways currently operates flights from Chicago O'Hare to both Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) and Narita (NRT). The new American Airlines route to Narita is strategically positioned to leverage Japan Airlines' extensive network across Asia, enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling beyond Tokyo.