World’s busiest airports latest: US reclaims top aviation market spot

 

U.S. flight capacity is roaring back – so much so that the U.S. reclaimed the title as the largest aviation market in the world. While pent-up demand, growing desire for non-stop flights, underused aircraft capacity and airline’s “dash for cash” are all contributing to air travel’s rebirth, is this growth part of a short-term airline experiment, or something more sustainable?

OAG, the world’s collector of travel data, answers this and more with their latest insights:

• The U.S. takes the top spot as the largest aviation market with an additional 900,000 domestic seats.
  - 9% of U.S. capacity remains linked to international services to to points in Latin America, the Caribbean and Mexico.
• With 67.9 million seats newly added, this week marked the busiest for scheduling since the week of March 30th 2020.
• May capacity closed at 279.9 million, nearly double May 2020’s seat capacity.
• With new seasonal services to destinations in Europe, American Airlines continues to reign as the largest airline, now almost 23% larger than its closest rival, Delta Air.
• Over 1,150 new airport pairs have been added since last July; a 33% jump that’s creating more traveler choices –and likely more competitive fares. 

This rebuild in recovery is also benefitting U.S. airports, according to OAG’s latest look at the World’s Busiest Airports: 

• Busiest Airports - Atlanta holds strong: ATL pulled ahead of Guangzhou (CAN) this month, while Dallas (DFW) and Denver (DEN) eek their way into the top 10.
• Busiest Airports-Internationally: Despite the Middle East still being closed off to international travelers, Dubai takes the top spot, while Miami and JFK rank at 8 and 9.

With the U.S. bouncing back it’s only a matter of time until restriction free international travel opens up and spurs recovery throughout the international market. 

Tags: OAG