More than 3 million seats: 5 most popular domestic air routes in the USA
Aviation industry analyst OAG has published a list of the busiest domestic routes in the United States by the number of seats. The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the travel industry, leading to significant changes in the most popular domestic routes compared to 2019 levels.
Notably, the Honolulu (HNL) - Kahului (OGG) route did not make the list of the 10 busiest routes in 2019, but it ranked third in 2022 and topped the list this year. The route from Los Angeles to San Francisco was the busiest in 2019. However, this year it was ranked sixth. The list of the five busiest US domestic routes was published on simpleflying.com.
1. Honolulu (HNL) to Kahului (OGG) 3,612,212 seats
It is not surprising that the route from Oahu to Maui in Hawaii topped the ranking, given that last year it was ranked third. In addition, Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii's flag carrier, added flights on this route after the Lahaina wildfires earlier this year to help residents and tourists evacuate and allow rescuers to reach the devastated areas of western Maui.
The main carriers flying this popular 40-minute route are Hawaiian Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
While places like Kaanapali, Wailea, and Lahaina are better-known tourist destinations, Kahului Airport is the primary airport for the island of Maui. According to the airport, it is the second busiest in Hawaii, after Honolulu, with seven million passengers traveling through the facility annually.
2. Atlanta (ATL) - Orlando (MCO)
3,515,882 seats
This connection between two of the busiest airports ranks second. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is one of Delta's main transportation hubs and the home city for Southwest, Frontier, and Spirit. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta continues to dominate U.S. air travel. It is one of the main entry points to the country for international traffic and can reach 80% of the US in just two hours.
Orlando International Airport plays a vital role in Florida's tourism economy, as it offers efficient connections to Miami and other locations in the state. Of course, passengers also fly into this airport on their way to the Walt Disney World theme park.
3. Las Vegas (LAS) - Los Angeles (LAX)
3,496,170 seats
As famous cities in America, Las Vegas and Los Angeles attract both tourists and business travelers. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics for 2022, this route connects the eighth and fifth airports in terms of passenger boardings in the United States. Airlines that offer direct service from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to Los Angeles International Airport include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
4. New York (JFK) - Los Angeles (LAX)
3,241,663 seats
New York and Los Angeles are arguably the main cities of the United States, so it is not surprising that the volume of air traffic between them will be significant. Among the major carriers offering direct service on this route are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Spirit Airlines, and United Airlines.
5. Denver (DEN) - Las Vegas (LAS)
3,198,098 seats
Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas is among the 10 busiest airports in the United States. And Denver International Airport is becoming a force in its own right with record passenger numbers. Passenger traffic in the first half of 2023 reached an all-time high of 36.5 million passengers, up almost 12% from the first half of 2019. The airport's full-year domestic network includes direct flights to 187 destinations in 45 states, making it the second-largest domestic airline network in the United States.
The main carriers offering direct daily flights on this route are Frontier Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
The rapid growth in passenger numbers in Denver and the popularity of Las Vegas as a tourist and conference destination make this route the fifth busiest in the country.
