New Routes of the Day (24 February 2026): United’s new routes from Paducah
United inaugurated flights from Paducah in Kentucky to both Chicago ORD and Houston IAH on Tuesday 24 February. Both the 550-kilometre Chicago service and the 995-kilometre Houston route will be maintained daily with the CRJ700 aircraft. As the only carrier operating from Paducah’s Barkley Regional Airport, the Star Alliance member faces no competition on either of the two routes.
What they said
Dennis Rouleau, Executive Director of Barkley Regional Airport, said: “This celebration represents months of collaboration, careful evaluation, and community advocacy. Reliable, high-quality air service is essential to economic development, tourism, and business growth. This moment positions our region for long-term success. The results of this Essential Air Service (EAS) process secured dual-hub access to two global gateways, a fully branded United Airlines codeshare partnership, and the most advanced aircraft to serve Barkley in decades; this is exactly the type of air service our community deserves.”
United becomes only carrier serving Paducah
Barkley Regional Airport has seen notable shifts in air service over the past few years as it continues to rely on the federal Essential Air Service program to sustain commercial connectivity.
In December 2022, Contour Airlines launched subsidised flights to Charlotte, replacing previous links to Chicago ORD. The Charlotte route provided access to a major American Airlines hub and marked a period of relative stability following pandemic-era uncertainty.
In late 2025, the EAS contract was awarded to SkyWest Airlines, operating as United Express, replacing Contour Airlines. As a result, the airport has regained hub access in two major markets.
The airport opened a new terminal in 2023, roughly eighty years after the original facility was built.
Located in southeastern US, Paducah has a population of just over 27,000, while the metro area counts over 103,000 people. It is known as the Quilt City and is home to the National Quilt Museum.
