Travelers who want to visit the Windy City will soon be able to catch a flight closer to home.

Santa Barbara Airport announced on Thursday that United Airlines will be offering daily nonstop flights to Chicago beginning next year.

“We are really excited that United Airlines is bringing back service to Chicago O’Hare,” said airport spokesperson Lauren Gonzales, “And that’s going to begin in April of 2026.”

The route was previously a seasonal service offered by United in the summers of 2021 and 2022.

The cost of a non-stop round-trip between Santa Barbara Airport and Chicago in April can vary between $537 and $1,649, according to United’s website. Seats in the business and first class sections can vary from $1,154 to $3,009.

Gonzales said the Chicago trip was one of the most requested flights by the community and is scheduled to continue until the end of 2026. However, the route may be extended beyond that.

Gonzales said the Santa Barbara Airport has been working with partners from United Airlines to determine if the route can be restarted.

“I can tell you we’ve been talking about to them for a long time,” Gonzales said. “We’ve been talking to them for years about the potential of bringing it back to the Santa Barbara for our community.”