Only 84 Miles: American Airlines Launches New Extremely Short Route [Map]

American Airlines is bringing back scheduled air service between Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and South Bend (SBN) this fall after more than 25 years. The 84-mile (135 km) route is set to start on October 3, 2026, with SkyWest operating three daily flights under the American Eagle brand. Service will use 65-seat Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jets and replace the Landline motorcoach connection that has run between the airports since October 2025. Timed around midday, late afternoon and evening, the flights are expected to take about 70–75 minutes each way, cutting well below the current two hours and 45 minutes bus ride.