Southwest Airlines is pulling out of two major airports that many Outer Banks travelers use to connect to other destinations. The airline announced it's ending service to both Chicago O'Hare and Washington Dulles airports. This change could affect OBX residents and visitors who rely on Southwest for travel to these busy hubs. Many folks around here have used these airports as stepping stones to reach other parts of the country, especially during the off-season when direct flights from Norfolk are more limited. The good news is that Southwest isn't completely abandoning these regions. The airline says customers will still have other Southwest airport options in the Chicago and Washington D.C. areas, though they'll need to adjust their travel plans accordingly. This likely means using airports like Midway in Chicago or Reagan National in the D.C. area instead. For anyone with existing bookings through O'Hare or Dulles, it's worth checking with Southwest about rebooking options or alternative routing to make sure your travel plans stay on track.