US Aviation Market Data Insights

Find answers to your questions about the US aviation market, with flight data insights and analysis powered by OAG's Schedules Analyser.

Here are some highlights from this month's US market data:

• Largest airline: American Airlines (20.5m seats)
• Busiest airport: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (4.9m seats)
• Busiest US domestic flight route: New York JFK to Los Angeles (285,800 seats)
• State adding most airline capacity: Florida (+280,400 seats)

The data is updated monthly. Seats are calculated as departing seats (one-way).

• American Airlines remains the biggest carrier in the US this month with 22% of the market, operating 20.5m seats.
• Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines represent 19% and 18% share of the market respectively, with 17.8m and 16.8m seats in January 2026.
• Spirit Airlines saw a 30% capacity decrease year-on-year, which is a reduction of 1.1m seats, taking them down to 2.5m seats.
• The Big Four (American, Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines) represent 74% of the total US market.
  
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• American Airlines recorded the largest increase in seats this month, adding 547,900 more seats than in January 2025. United Airlines saw the second-largest growth, with an additional 428,600 seats compared to last year.
• Percentage-wise, Breeze expanded capacity the fastest, up 39% versus January 2025, followed by LATAM Airlines Group with a 19% increase.

• The busiest airline route in the US in January 2026 is New York JFK to Los Angeles with 285,800 seats, an increase of 15% capacity year-on-year.
• Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale has the largest percentage increase - up 16% to 270,100 seats.
• Capacity decreased most on the Honolulu to Kahului route, followed by Denver to Phoenix, declining by 11% and 10% respectively vs January 2025.
• The New York Newark to Orlando route displaced Honolulu to Los Angeles from the Top 10 routes, taking it to 13th position.
  

• Florida recorded the largest increase in seats again this month, with capacity increasing by 280,400 seats vs January 2025.
• Meanwhile, Tennessee recorded the largest percentage increase in capacity again this month, up 8% year-on-year.
• The states with the largest capacity decreases this month were Nevada, down 250,600 seats, and California, down 145,300 seats year-on-year.
  

To view US flight capacity statistics from 2019-2026, click the button below to download the data.

*As of July 2025, international capacity is reported on a two-way basis (previously one-way departing).