UNITED STATES- Several airlines increasing frequencies and introducing new routes have substantially increased passenger numbers and seat capacities at airports during the first half of 2023.
In June, out of the more than 660 US airports operating scheduled flights, the top ten busiest witnessed over 2 million departing seats, indicating a remarkable recovery in air travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.
10 Busiest US Airports and Airlines
The data highlights the significant recovery that airports and the air travel industry have undergone following the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This positive trend aligns with the predictions of Avolon, an aircraft leasing company, which anticipated that global air traffic would return to pre-pandemic levels in June.
According to OAG, a global travel data provider based in England, a total of 664 US airports operated scheduled air service in June.
Eight out of the top ten busiest airports are major hubs for the nation’s legacy carriers, while the remaining two serve as popular travel destinations and airline operating bases.
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Here are the top ten busiest airports in June:
- Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) – Hub for Delta Air Lines, an operating base for Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, with a total of 5,310,608 seats.
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) – Hub for American Airlines, operating base for Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines, with a total of 4,247,003 seats.
- Denver International Airport (DEN) – Hub for United Airlines, an operating base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines, with a total of 3,946,509 seats.
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – Hub for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, operating base for Allegiant Air and Southwest Airlines, with a total of 3,864,130 seats.
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – Hub for American Airlines, United Airlines, operating base for Spirit Airlines, with a total of 3,771,424 seats.
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) – Hub for American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, operating base for JetBlue Airways, with a total of 3,221,116 seats.
- Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) – Operating base for Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, with a total of 2,864,894 seats.
- Orlando International Airport (MCO) – Operating base for Avelo Airlines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and Spirit Airlines, with a total of 2,675,587 seats.
- Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) – Hub for American Airlines, with a total of 2,726,155 seats.
- Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – Hub for Alaska Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, with a total of 2,709,827 seats.
OAG’s data reveals that seat capacities from these ten airports represent more than 30% of the total capacity in the United States.
The largest and busiest airport, ATL, alone accounts for 5% of all capacity nationwide. SEA and DFW experienced the most significant capacity increases, with 7% and 6% growth rates, respectively.
Top US Airlines
Among the airlines responsible for the increased seat capacity in June, Allegiant Air, an ultra-low-cost carrier, emerged as the top contributor.
Additionally, two international carriers made it into the top ten airlines by seats added month-on-month, according to OAG’s data.
Allegiant Air added an impressive 354,810 seats, closely followed by American Airlines with 353,485 added seats.
While Allegiant Air contributed the most to seat capacity, it represents only about 2% of the overall capacity. On the other hand, American Airlines’ seat increase accounts for 20% of the total capacity.
United Airlines secured the third position by adding 205,894 seats, and Delta Air Lines claimed the fourth spot with 155,176 total seats added. Sun Country Airlines, based in Minneapolis, increased its capacity by 112,450 seats, surpassing Alaska Airlines, which added 103,126 seats.
Smaller airlines such as Breeze Airways and Avelo also made notable contributions, adding over 67,000 and nearly 40,000 seats, respectively. Avianca and Air Canada each added around 30,000 seats.
However, the smaller airlines experienced the most significant percentage increases, with Sun Country growing by 28%, according to OAG’s analysis.
Seat Capacity Increases in Various States Some of the top ten busiest airports also played a role in seat capacity increases recorded in certain states, with a total capacity increase of 700,000 seats.
High Capacity US States
Texas saw the highest number of additional seats in June, with over 260,000 added compared to May. Washington, Colorado, and North Carolina also observed significant seat capacity growth.
Interestingly, states without airline hubs, namely Maine and Montana, experienced the highest seat increases relative to the previous month. Maine recorded 201,411 total seats in June, compared to 131,991 in May, while Montana had nearly 100,000 seats added, totaling 345,778 seats in June compared to 246,313 the previous month.
American Airlines and United were the main contributors to the seat capacity increases in these states. American added over 30,000 seats in both Maine and Montana, while United added 19,000 seats in Maine and 34,000 seats in Montana.
Continued Growth Reflects Global Recovery As air travel continues to thrive in the United States, these numbers contribute to the overall recovery of the aviation industry worldwide.
According to OAG, airline capacity grew by a million seats from the previous week, reaching a total of 113.5 million seats by June 26th.
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