Monterey Regional Airport officials announce a new route direct to Chicago coming in 2026.

Officials from Monterey Regional Airport and United Airlines announced a new direct route will launch in May 2026 between MRY and Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, ORD.

The flights will start out on Saturdays only for the summer season, with plans to operate from May 23-Aug. 15, 2026. Planes will depart from ORD in the morning, arriving at MRY around noon. After a one- or two-hour turnaround, they will depart for ORD arriving by 8pm, in time for many international flights headed for destinations in Europe and the Middle East. 

"We want to build this market. We know it’s going to be a good market," said Kevin T. Willoughby, San Francisco-based corporate sales manager for United Airlines. 

“It’s also a bit of a challenge, and we need your help—we need your help to fill this airplane. If we can fill it, I know United will bring back more routes to Monterey.”

United will fly 737 MAX 8 planes, with 160 seats, between MRY and ORD. It will be the largest plane at Monterey Airport, and also marks a significant market decision for United to provide mainline service to MRY, rather than contracting with SkyWest.

Existing United flights (as is the case for most commercial flights out of MRY) are regional jets that might be branded with United—or another airline's—logo, but are operated by SkyWest pilots and flight attendants under contract with the bigger name-brand airlines. The ORD flights will be mainline flights, meaning they are operated by United pilots and flight attendants, not contracted staff. 

Next year, Willoughby adds that at least one of the two MRY-Denver flights will also switch to a larger, mainline United aircraft.

Officials from MRY and regional tourism and business groups celebrated the announcement, noting that Chicago was the most-requested destination from travelers.  

"Business ties to Chicago run deep in this community—for example, Taylor Farms has a facility there," MRY Interim Executive Director Chris Morelli said. 

Besides interest in Chicago as a destination, she adds it will be an important connection for points international and domestic. "It's getting us as far east as we've ever been," she says.

The route will start once a week with the possibility of expanding beyond summer or to additional dates if ticket sales go well. "We want it to go daily," Willoughby says. "You walk before you can run."

Anticipating the launch of a Chicago route, MRY sought and received funds from FAA that will help minimize the risk to an air carrier. (United was the first to jump, and hence the funds are now available only to United.) MRY will backfill up to $750,000 to United if they fail to meet a minimum revenue guarantee threshold which Morelli expects will help the route find its footing. 

"Our hope is that we don't need any of it [for the Saturday launch] and we can save it until daily service starts," Morelli says. 

The FAA funds last until May 2029, giving an onramp of three years: "It gives us time."

United selected Saturdays for the initial launch. "Chicago-Monterey is chiefly a leisure market, and Saturday works for a lot of leisure travelers," Willoughby says. United also has more aircraft availability on Saturdays. 

Rob O'Keefe, president and CEO of the convention and visitors bureau See Monterey, adds that many corporate travelers arrive early or leave a few days after attending conferences and he hopes to capture that market too.

He adds that since See Monterey has already been advertising in Chicago in anticipation of this announcement, and since launching a campaign there it has measured a 400-percent increase in visits to the See Monterey website from Chicago internet users.