Airlines Statistics By Busiest Airports, Air Traffic, Loyalty Programs, Frequency and Capacity
Updated · Mar 10, 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Editor’s Choice
- What Is An Airline?
- Types of Airlines
- General Airlines Statistics
- Top 10 Busiest International Airports Globally by Seats
- Global Air Traffic (2004 – 2024)
- By Leading Airlines Loyalty Programs
- Passenger Airlines Statistics
- Global Airline Frequency And Capacity Statistics
- By Leading Airline Brands By Brand Awareness
- Conclusion
Introduction
Airlines Statistics: The global aviation industry is worth billions of dollars, with millions of people flying every day. Many travelers enjoy visiting countries that don’t require a visa, while others choose destinations that require one before arrival. The aviation industry isn’t just about passenger flights—it also includes cargo, which helps deliver international orders.
Online stores like Amazon have benefited greatly from air travel because it lets customers order products from anywhere and have them delivered in just 2 to 3 weeks. These interesting Airline Statistics include both global and U.S. insights, and at the end, you can enjoy a fun feature that lets you track live air traffic worldwide.
Editor’s Choice
- In the U.S., there are more than 10 million scheduled passenger flights every year.
- During busy times, around 5,400 planes are in the sky at once.
- The total area for domestic flights in the U.S. is 5.3 million square miles.
- Every day, about 2.9 million people fly in and out of U.S. airports.
- The aviation industry in the U.S. brings in USD 488 billion each year.
- The aviation industry in the U.S. created 10.9 million jobs in 2022.
- There are 147 radar approach control facilities in the U.S.
- The airline industry in the U.S. moves around 44.5 billion pounds of freight each year.
- In the U.S., there are 34,200 experimental light planes, over 167,000 general aviation aircraft, and 10,000 rotorcraft.
- Airline Statistics stated that S. general aviation flights add up to 25.5 million hours annually.
- Airline Statistics: about 20% of the global population has flown at least once in their lifetime.
- The Asia Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing market for airlines between 2023 and 2028.
What Is An Airline?
An airline is a company that provides air travel services to transport goods or people across countries. The airline industry includes passengers, caterers, cleaners, airports, airplanes, loaders, flight attendants, pilots, and booking services. Every year, billions of travelers and about 52 billion tons of cargo are moved by air. With growing demand and new technology, air shipping is one of the fastest-growing industries because companies can now sell to customers anywhere in the world. Besides airplanes, other types of air transport include rockets, helicopters, jets, hot air balloons, gliders, hang gliders, and blimps.
The oldest airport in the world is Toussus-le-Noble Airport, located near Paris and built-in 1907.
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Types of Airlines
Not all airlines are the same. Like other industries, airlines are divided into different categories based on their size and revenue. In many countries, the government owns airlines, and how much money an airline makes determines its ranking. Airlines are generally grouped into three types: Major, National, and Regional.
(Source: oneeducation.com)
#1. Major airlines – These are the biggest airlines, usually making over USD 1 billion in revenue each year. They are often in the news and employ large numbers of people. However, some major airlines may have fewer employees. For example, one major airline only has around 9,600 workers.
#2. National Airlines – These airlines earn between USD 100 million and USD 1 billion annually. They typically serve certain parts of a country but also offer long-distance and some international flights. National airlines use medium- and large-sized jets and usually have fewer employees than major airlines.
#3. Regional airlines – These airlines serve smaller areas within a country, filling gaps left by major airlines. This is the fastest-growing part of the airline industry, and regional airlines can be split into three types:
- Large Regional – These airlines make USD 20 million to USD 100 million a year and fly planes with more than 60 seats.
- Medium Regional – These airlines make under USD 20 million and usually use smaller aircraft.
- Small Regional – Known as “commuter airlines,” these airlines use even smaller planes with fewer than 61 seats and don’t have a fixed revenue range.
(Source: oneeducation.org)
Just like any business, the airline industry offers different options to meet customer needs. If you’re travelling internationally, you’re likely to choose a major airline because it flies to more countries.
A business traveler going between smaller cities may prefer a regional airline to avoid long layovers at major airline hubs. When flying with major airlines, it’s important to know your rights regarding delays and cancellations.
General Airlines Statistics
- In 2023, the global airline industry is worth about USD 841.5 billion.
- In 2022, U.S. airlines served 853 million passengers, up from 658 million in 2021.
- Airline Statistics stated that there will be an estimated 34.4 million airline flights worldwide in 2023.
- The aviation market is expected to grow from USD 333.96 billion in 2023 to USD 386.21 billion by 2028, with a 2.95% annual growth rate from 2023 to 2028.
- As of May 2023, Delta Air Lines is worth around USD 22 billion, making it the most valuable airline in the world.
- In 2022, Delta earned the most revenue among passenger airlines in North America, with about USD 50.6 billion.
- Global commercial airlines are expected to earn a profit of USD 9.8 billion in 2023.
- Commercial aviation makes up 5% of the U.S. GDP, which is roughly USD 1.25 trillion.
- Turkiye and India are growing the most, while markets like Mexico, Indonesia, and Australia are shrinking.
- Airline Statistics stated that global airline capacity increased by 4.7%, with the most growth in Asia Pacific, Europe, North Africa, and Central Asia.
- North Africa and Central Asia are seeing strong growth, though Central Asia remains the smallest region globally.
- In 2023, about 2,319 Airbus planes and 1,314 Boeing planes were ordered. However, only 735 Airbus planes and 528 Boeing planes were delivered by the end of the year.
- By December 2023, there was a backlog of 8,598 Airbus orders and 6,216 Boeing orders.
- Passenger air traffic grew by 64.2% in 2023, reaching a total of 34.4 million passengers.
- The busiest day for flights in 2023 was August 11, with a total seat capacity of 18,586,233. The quietest day was January 21, with only 13,967,001 seats.
- American Airlines had the highest customer satisfaction score in the U.S. in 2023, with a score of 81.
- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) managed 16,405,000 flights by April 2023, averaging 45,000 flights per day.
Top 10 Busiest International Airports Globally by Seats
| 2024 Ranking | Airport Code | Airport Name | Seats |
|
10 |
DOH | Doha (QA) | 2,698,348 |
| 9 | HKG | Hong Kong International Apt |
2,812,341 |
|
8 |
FRA | Frankfurt International Apt | 2,837,245 |
| 7 | CDG | Paris Charles de Gaulle Apt |
2,999,521 |
|
6 |
IST | Istanbul Airport | 3,023,367 |
| 5 | AMS | Amsterdam |
3,200,107 |
|
4 |
ICN | Seoul Incheon International Airport | 3,370,715 |
| 3 | SIN | Singapore Changi Apt |
3,434,207 |
|
2 |
LHR | London Heathrow Apt | 4,002,343 |
| 1 | DXB | Dubai International |
4,989,008 |
Global Air Traffic (2004 – 2024)
(Reference: statista.com)
- The global airline industry is expected to carry around 4.5 billion scheduled passengers in 2023, a big increase from the previous year as it continues to bounce back from the pandemic.
- This growth is expected to continue into 2024, with the number of passengers reaching just under 5 billion.
- Scheduled passengers are those who book flights with commercial airlines, not including people on chartered flights, where a private group rents an entire plane.
- Over the past decade, the number of scheduled passengers has risen every year except one.
- In 2023, the Asia Pacific region had the largest share of global air travel, about one-third of the total.
By Leading Airlines Loyalty Programs
(Reference: coolest-gadgets.com)
- According to airline statistics, in 2023, United Airlines’ MileagePlus program was the best airline loyalty program in the world, with a score of 7.85 out of 10.
- Other top loyalty programs included Aeroplan by Air Canada, Miles and Smiles by Turkish Airlines, AAdvantage by American Airlines, and Miles and More by Lufthansa Group.
Passenger Airlines Statistics
- Passenger airlines are companies that transport people by air. They usually own or lease airplanes from other companies.
- These airlines can be mainline, meaning they operate flights from the airline’s central hub or regional, which focus on shorter flights within a specific area.
- Airline Statistics stated that some passenger airlines are low-cost carriers, offering basic services at lower prices.
- Charter airlines don’t follow regular flight schedules, and major airlines generate at least USD 1 billion in revenue each year.
(Source: aci.aero)
- In 2023, the global airline industry was worth USD 762.8 billion. This was the highest value since the pandemic but still lower than before the pandemic.
- Airline Statistics stated that the pandemic greatly impacted the airline industry, but companies have been working to recover and improve.
- Air travel is expected to grow even more by 2050, with passenger numbers predicted to exceed 10 billion.
- In 2024, Delta Air Lines was the top airline based on brand value, leading the global passenger aviation market. U.S. airlines made up most of the top 10, but British Airways, Emirates, and China Southern Airlines were also included.
- Delta Air Lines had the best on-time performance in North America, with 83.2% of flights on time.
- In Europe, Iberia Express, a Spanish budget airline, had the highest on-time rate at 89.9%.
(Source: aci.aero)
- In October 2022, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) set a goal for the airline industry to reach net-zero carbon emissions.
- This will be achieved by cutting CO2 emissions from flights and using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
- The aviation industry will need 450 billion liters of SAF by 2050. United Airlines has been the top buyer of SAF since 2013, purchasing more than 14 billion liters, followed by Southwest Airlines.
- The gap in SAF purchases between Delta and Southwest is about 10 billion liters.
Global Airline Frequency And Capacity Statistics
- United Airlines had the biggest increase in capacity this month, growing by 10.9% compared to last December. Indigo followed closely with a 10.1% growth.
- Alaska Airlines and American Airlines also added more seats, increasing capacity by 9.0% and 8.8%, respectively.
- On the flip side, U.S. low-cost carriers (LCCs) are cutting back. Southwest Airlines reduced its capacity by 8.9%, and JetBlue cut back by 2.8%.
- Airline Statistics stated that Deutsche Lufthansa had the largest capacity reduction, lowering seats by 11.8% from last December.
- China is seeing a strong recovery in its international routes. The China-Japan route grew by 61.0%, and the China-Thailand route increased by 49.6%. However, both of these routes are still about 25% lower than before the pandemic.
(Source: aviationa2z.com)
- Other international routes with strong growth include Japan-South Korea (up 14.5%) and Japan-Taiwan (up 18.9%).
- Two major international routes are shrinking: the Canada-U.S. route dropped by 2%, and the U.S.-U.K. route saw a 5.6% decrease compared to last year.
- Among the top 10 largest domestic markets, Türkiye saw the biggest growth, increasing by 7.7%, followed closely by India, which saw a 7.6% increase.
- India is the third-largest domestic market, with 17.1 million seats this month. However, the U.S. (86.9 million seats) and China (67.1 million seats) are much larger.
- Some domestic markets are shrinking, with Mexico down 4.6%, Indonesia down 2.5%, and Australia down 1.4%.
(Source: researchdive.com)
- Global airline capacity is expected to reach 487.8 million seats in December 2024, an increase of 4.7% compared to last December.
- A significant amount of this growth is in Asia Pacific (up 9.9 million seats) and Europe (up 5.2 million seats).
- Airline Statistics stated that North Africa has the biggest growth, increasing by 13.1%, while Central Asia grew by 12.6%.
- Despite fast growth, Central Asia is still the smallest region, making up just 0.5% of global capacity, with only 2.7 million seats in December.
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By Leading Airline Brands By Brand Awareness
(Reference: statista.com)
- In 2023, Delta ranked as the top airline in the world by brand value, worth USD 8,922 million.
- Other top airlines included American Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, and Southwest.
Conclusion
Even though the airline industry was greatly impacted by the pandemic four years ago, it is unlikely to stop. In fact, people are travelling more now, thanks to the rise of remote work. The future of the airline industry looks bright, especially with the help of artificial intelligence.
Many airports worldwide are using robots and other technologies to assist travelers in reaching their destinations. These Airline Statistics show the industry’s promising future.
Sources
FAQ.
The number of flights each day has been around 3,161 this month, which is eight more than last month. On November 17, 2024, Indian aviation set a record by transporting over 500,000 domestic passengers in just one day for the first time.
According to the study, the chance of a fatality from commercial air travel was 1 in every 13.7 million passengers worldwide between 2018 and 2022. This is a big improvement from 1 in 7.9 million passengers from 2008 to 2017 and a major drop from 1 in 350,000 passengers between 1968 and 1977.
Saisuman is a talented content writer with a keen interest in mobile tech, new gadgets, law, and science. She writes articles for websites and newsletters, conducting thorough research for medical professionals. Fluent in five languages, her love for reading and languages led her to a writing career. With a Master’s in Business Administration focusing on Human Resources, Saisuman has worked in HR and with a French international company. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and singing classical songs. At Coolest Gadgets, Saisuman reviews gadgets and analyzes their statistics, making complex information easy for readers to understand.
