TRAVEL · VERIFIED DEVELOPMENT
American Airlines Replaces South Bend Bus Link with Daily CRJ‑700 Flights to Chicago
WHY IT MATTERS
The change offers South Bend travelers a quicker, more comfortable link to Chicago, potentially boosting regional mobility and economic ties between the two cities.
What happened
American Airlines has swapped its 84‑mile ground shuttle between South Bend Regional Airport (SBN) and Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) for scheduled air service. Beginning October 5, the carrier will operate three daily American Eagle flights on 65‑seat Bombardier CRJ‑700 aircraft, replacing the 35‑seat Landline motorcoaches that completed their final trips on Sunday.
The move means passengers no longer need to take the bus for the trip; instead they can board a regional jet that offers a higher seating capacity and a shorter travel time.
While the exact time savings are not specified, the shift is likely to improve convenience and reduce travel time for South Bend residents heading to Chicago.
PRIMARY SOURCES
84 Miles: American Airlines Replaces Buses With CRJ-700 Flights To Chicago Today
Simple Flying · Paul Hartley · Discovery only; publisher copyright terms apply
CORRECTIONS & UPDATES
- Revision 1 · Initial ingestion · Oct 5, 2026, 9:00 PM
- Revision 2 · Source update detected · Oct 5, 2026, 9:00 PM