Daily nonstop flights between Wilmington and Chicago will return this spring, according to a recent announcement from the Wilmington International Airport.

American Airlines plans to reinstate the daily nonstop service between the Wilmington International Airport (ILM) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) starting May 6 and running through Oct. 6, airport officials said in a news release.

The last nonstop flights to ORD ran in the fall of 2019, said Julie Wilsey, airport director, in an email.

"American operated the ORD route for the Summer of 2018 and 2019. They did not have the flight in 2020 due to COVID," she said. 

American Airlines also plans to add additional flights on Saturdays starting on June 5 through Sept. 4.

Flights between ILM and ORD will run on an E-175 aircraft, officials said.

Daily nonstop flights will depart from ORD at 9:16 a.m. and arrive at ILM at 12:27 p.m. Departure from ILM is at 12:51 p.m. with arrival to ORD at 2:20 p.m., according to the flight schedule.

For the Saturday nonstop service, flights from ORD will depart at 11:45 a.m. and arrive at ILM at 2:56 p.m., while flights departing from ILM are scheduled to take place at 2:25 p.m. and arrive at ORD at 3:57 p.m.

The news of the return of the Chicago flights to ILM comes just weeks after airport officials announced that American Airlines plans to offer a new service at ILM, a seasonal nonstop flight to Boston Logan International Airport, which is slated to run each Saturday from June 5 through Aug. 14.

The schedule and flight frequency for the ORD flights are subject to change, officials said in the release. Travelers interested in checking out the new flight options are asked to visit the American Airlines website.

“We are excited and thankful that American is reinstating this nonstop service. With enhanced safety measures, implemented by ILM airport as well as our travel partners, ILM’s passengers can feel safe flying," Wilsey said in the release. "We look forward to a strong Summer schedule with nonstop destinations."