In 2024, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines were the leading airlines in the U.S., with a domestic market share of 21 percent. That year, American Airlines had the second-largest market share of 20 percent. U.S. airlines' domestic market share The passenger air transportation market is a thriving industry, taking individuals to locations around the globe. American Airlines was the third largest airline in the North America based on operating revenue, reaching nearly 40.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Passenger airlines can face much scrutiny for their passenger satisfaction and comfort. A 2025 North American Airline Satisfaction Study by J.D. Power & Associates listed Southwest Airlines as the best long-haul, closely followed by low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines are the top-ranked airlines based on 2024 domestic market share. Delta operates out of Atlanta, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta’s hub, sees the most passenger traffic in the United States. Chicago-headquartered United Airlines is a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings. United has flights to 210 domestic destinations and 120 destinations internationally.

United Airlines, founded in 1926 as Varney Air Lines, is one of the four major air carriers in the United States, with a domestic market share of *** percent in 2021. United Airlines in the U.S. In 2010, United Airlines merged with Continental Airlines, following discussions started in 2008, and changed its name to United Continental Holdings to reflect the merger agreement into one of the world’s largest airlines. The airline brought in over **** billion U.S. dollars in revenue from its Canadian and domestic routes in 2021. Its largest hub, Denver International, handled *** million passengers that year. United Airlines in the worldDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline generated only **** billion U.S. dollars in operating revenue and transported only ***** million passengers worldwide in 2021. The company is often amongst the leading airlines in the world in terms of ancillary revenue, passenger kilometers flown or brand value. United Airlines is one of the world’s largest airline when it comes to the number of destinations served – *** destinations as of August 2022.

Southwest Airlines reported $20.87B in Market Capitalization this December of 2025, considering the latest stock price and the number of outstanding shares.Data for Southwest Airlines | LUV - Market Capitalization including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last December in 2025.

Domestic airline revenue varies with changes in domestic travel patterns. Airlines are investing in modern technology and upgrading aircraft to reduce costs. Mainline fleets are expanding aircraft size to carry more passengers per flight, enhancing economies of scale. Major carriers, like Delta Airlines, focused on advancing premium service offerings, while the competitive landscape was further shaped by budget airlines offering low-cost fares. Revenue is expected to expand at a CAGR of 16.5% to $243.8 billion through the end of 2025, including growth of 0.4% in 2025 alone. The double-digit CAGR is attributed to the low comparison base recorded in 2020. Rebounding travel is providing airlines with an opportunity to attract more travelers by offering appealing fare options and continuing to enhance service quality. Easing inflationary pressures and interest rate reductions are improving consumer and business sentiment and driving a rebound in passenger and business travel, supporting growth through 2025. Airlines are capitalizing on this positive momentum, with investments directed toward enhancing customer loyalty programs and expanding their service offerings. Despite facing competitive pressures from low-cost carriers, major airlines are strategically positioning themselves through partnerships and aligning with financial institutions to secure funding. Major airlines continue to seek profit improvements and are investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to curb their environmental footprint and reduce exposure to jet-fuel cost fluctuations. Ongoing investments into SAF are expected to foreshadow the airline's continuing commitment to prioritizing fuel efficiency and sustainability. The industry is expected to consolidate further, with Big Four airlines maintaining their lead despite intensifying regulatory scrutiny. Airlines will benefit from airport and infrastructure upgrades as unallocated funding from the IIJA capitalizes and projects come online. Easing monetary policy and improving liquidity are expected to support consumption and drive domestic travel, setting the stage for a return to sustained growth. Industry revenue is set to expand by a CAGR of 1.3% to an estimated $260.2 billion through the end of 2030.

The global airline industry, valued at $633.03 billion in 2025, is projected to experience a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.9% from 2025 to 2033. This growth reflects a steady recovery from the pandemic-induced downturn and anticipates increasing passenger demand driven by factors such as rising disposable incomes in emerging markets, a growing preference for air travel, and expanding tourism. The industry's expansion will be fueled by advancements in technology, including improved aircraft efficiency, enhanced operational systems, and personalized customer experiences. However, challenges remain, such as fluctuating fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and increasing environmental concerns leading to stricter emission regulations. These factors could impact profitability and necessitate strategic adaptations by airlines. Competition within the industry, especially among major global carriers like those listed (Air France KLM, American Airlines Group, ANA Holdings, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Deutsche Lufthansa, Hainan Airlines, Japan Airlines, LATAM Airlines Group, Qantas Airways, Ryanair Holdings, Singapore Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Thai Airways International PCL, United Continental Holdings, and WestJet Airlines), will continue to be intense, driving the need for innovation in pricing strategies, route optimization, and alliance partnerships. The forecast period (2025-2033) will likely see further consolidation within the airline industry, with stronger players acquiring smaller ones or forming strategic alliances to achieve economies of scale and enhance their global reach. The industry will also increasingly focus on sustainability initiatives, investing in fuel-efficient aircraft and exploring alternative fuels to meet growing environmental concerns. Regional variations will also be significant, with faster growth anticipated in regions with rapidly developing economies and robust tourism sectors. Careful navigation of these economic, environmental, and competitive pressures will be crucial for airlines to maintain profitability and sustainable growth throughout the forecast period.

Despite being headquartered in Dallas, Southwest Airlines’ busiest airport is not located in Texas; that honor goes to Denver International Airport, with **** million passengers enplaned in 2024. Low-cost carriersLow-cost carriers differentiate themselves from full-service carriers by offering lower ticket prices, generally through two methods. The first is to charge additional fees for items usually included by full-service carriers, such as food and beverages, and checked luggage. Second is by often operating out of secondary airports, which generally charge lower usage costs to airlines. Southwest Airlines is the worlds’ largest low carrier, both in terms of passengers carried and revenue. U.S. airlinesAs of 2022, Southwest Airlines had the fourth highest domestic market share of all U.S. airlines. However, the three full-service carriers which round out the top three - American Airlines, Delta, and United - are all more profitable. This is likely due to Southwest’s low-cost business model and lack of international destinations. Despite these limitations, Southwest consistently receives higher customer satisfaction scores than the leading full-service providers.

Southwest Airlines reported $5.34B in Debt for its fiscal quarter ending in June of 2025. Data for Southwest Airlines | LUV - Debt including historical, tables and charts were last updated by Trading Economics this last December in 2025.

Discover the booming Airline A-La-Carte Services market! Explore its $15 billion (2025) size, 8% CAGR, key drivers, trends, and top players like American Airlines and Delta. This in-depth analysis projects significant growth to $30 billion by 2033. Learn more!

Discover the booming low-cost airline market! This comprehensive analysis reveals key trends, growth drivers, regional breakdowns, and leading players from 2019-2033. Learn about market size, CAGR, and future projections for budget air travel.

The global low-cost carrier (LCC) market is experiencing robust growth, driven by increasing affordability, rising disposable incomes in emerging economies, and a preference for budget-friendly travel options among price-sensitive consumers. The market's expansion is further fueled by technological advancements, such as online booking platforms and efficient route planning, streamlining operations and reducing costs for airlines. Competition among LCCs remains fierce, leading to continuous innovation in service offerings and fare structures. While factors like fluctuating fuel prices and economic downturns can pose challenges, the overall market outlook remains positive. Let's assume, for illustrative purposes, a 2025 market size of $250 billion USD and a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7% for the forecast period 2025-2033. This implies substantial market expansion, reaching an estimated size exceeding $450 billion USD by 2033. This growth is expected to be distributed across various regions, with Asia-Pacific and North America showing significant potential due to their large populations and developing travel infrastructure. However, regional variations will exist, influenced by economic conditions, government regulations, and the competitive landscape within each market. The segmentation within the LCC market reveals distinct characteristics. The short-haul segment dominates in terms of volume and passenger numbers due to its accessibility and cost-effectiveness for shorter journeys. However, the line-haul segment is experiencing increased growth as LCCs expand their long-haul operations, making international travel more accessible. The consumer base is largely comprised of individual travelers seeking affordable options, but the commercial segment is also witnessing growth, with businesses increasingly using LCCs for cost-effective employee travel. Key players such as Ryanair, Southwest Airlines, and AirAsia are continuously adapting their strategies to capitalize on market trends, expanding their routes, and enhancing their services to maintain their competitive edge. The success of these companies underscores the market's dynamism and its potential for further expansion in the coming years.

Delta Air Lines was the most valuable airline in the world as of April 2025, with a market value of **** billion U.S. dollars. Ryanair Holdings ranked second, with **** billion dollars worth of market value. Market valuation The market value of a company typically refers to the market capitalization of a publicly traded firm, and is calculated by multiplying the number of shares by the current share price. A company’s market value also serves as an indicator of its business prospects. Other factors such as profitability, debt load, and metrics like earnings before tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are also considered when assessing a company's overall value.
Delta and Southwest: southern roots, global reach Southwest Airlines is the world’s largest low-cost carrier and the fourth-leading domestic carrier in the United States, operating from its headquarters at Dallas Love Field. Another powerhouse rooted in the American South is Delta Air Lines, one of the largest airlines in the world in terms of passengers carried. With its headquarters at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the airline is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance.

Here is the data of five major airlines in the USA. I have not uploaded the entire dataset here because it is easily gettable from yahoofinance.com. It contains data from Jun 1, 2016, to Jun 1, 2020. Anyone can explore this dataset and could find out the impact of COVID-19 on these airlines. For instance, how fast the market went down, changes in the volume of stock, etc.

DAL = Delta Airlines AAL = American Airlines LUV = Southwest Airlines SAVE = Spirit Airlines UAL = United Airlines

Columns: Date: Shows date except for the day when the market is closed. Open: Open price for a stock during the market hours. High: Highest price during the market hours. Low: Lowest price during the market hours. Close: Price at the time when the market is closed. Volume: Number of traded shares.

Discover the booming global airline ancillary services market! This in-depth analysis reveals key trends, growth drivers, and regional market shares, forecasting significant expansion through 2033. Learn about leading players and lucrative investment opportunities in baggage fees, seat selection, and more.

Discover the booming airline a-la-carte services market! This in-depth analysis reveals market size, growth trends, key players (American Airlines, Delta, Lufthansa, etc.), and future projections through 2033. Learn how airlines are maximizing ancillary revenue and the challenges they face.

Unlock the potential of the booming global airline a-la-carte services market! Explore key trends, regional insights, and competitive analysis in this comprehensive market report covering 2019-2033. Discover how airlines are maximizing ancillary revenue and shaping the future of air travel. Learn about major players, market segmentation, and growth projections.

This statistic illustrates the airlines with the biggest fleets in the world in 2021. In that year, American Airlines was the airline with the biggest fleet size, with *** aircraft in its fleet during that period. The aviation market in the U.S. The United States experienced a flourishing growth of the aviation industry throughout the 20th century. This expansion of the aviation market continued at a positive pace since the beginning of the 2000s. For example, the number of air traffic passengers traveling to or from the United States increased by roughly 100 million passengers between 2006 and 2018, reaching approximately *** million passengers. From 2007 to 2019, the U.S. air traffic passenger-miles increased, reaching *** billion passenger-miles in 2019. There are many airline groups in the U.S., many of which are world leaders. As of ********, Delta Air Lines had over ** billion U.S. dollars in market value. It is interesting to observe that the second and third largest airlines by market value were Southwest and Ryanair globally. Nonetheless, low-cost carriers are not in the list of leading airlines by brand value because the brand value is determined mostly by the satisfaction of a corporation’s stakeholders, such as passengers, punctuality and many other factors. This is because low-cost carriers cannot satisfy, for instance, the passenger experience as good as traditional carriers due to the cost-minimizing strategies from which customers benefit. Changing dynamics in the aviation market Through multitude efficiency-maximizing and cost-minimizing strategies, low-cost carriers (LCCs) are becoming the leading market participants in global aviation. Southwest, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are leading in North America based on the number of passengers in 2019. Due to high attractive fare prices, travelers have a high incentive to fly with LCCs and save money for different purposes. Between the fiscal year 2010 and 2019, the operating revenue of Southwest Airlines increased from ** billion U.S. dollars to ** billion U.S. dollars. In terms of market share, low-cost carriers increased globally in the overall aviation market, squeezing the traditional aviation. The global market size of the LCCs is forecasted to reach roughly *** billion U.S. dollars by 2025. This suggests an exponential rate of increase, higher than the overall aviation market size . Thus, implying a high growth in the market share of LCCs.

The global airline à la carte services market is projected to reach a value of USD 77,970 million by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 13.1%. The growing demand for personalized travel experiences and the increasing adoption of ancillary services by airlines are the key drivers of this market. The rising disposable income of consumers, particularly in emerging markets, is also contributing to the growth of the market. Moreover, the proliferation of low-cost carriers (LCCs), which offer a wide range of unbundled services, is further fueling the demand for airline à la carte services. The market is segmented by type into vitamins, combination, fatty acids, probiotics, and others. The combination segment is expected to dominate the market throughout the forecast period due to the increasing popularity of these services among health-conscious consumers. By application, the market is segmented into full-service carrier (FSC) and LCC. The FSC segment is expected to hold a larger share of the market, but the LCC segment is projected to witness faster growth during the forecast period. The key players in the market include American Airlines Group, Air France KLM, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa Group, Southwest Airlines, and United Continental Holdings.

Southwest Airlines, carried approximately ***** million travelers in 2022, the highest traffic figure among the other selected low-cost airlines. LCC business modelIn the airline industry, ancillary revenue is a major financial constituent for low-cost carriers and ultra-low-cost carriers all over the world. Unbundled sources, such as baggage fees or on-board activities like food or Wi-Fi, represented the highest share of revenue for low cost airlines like Ryanair in Europe or Spirit Airlines in the U.S. in 2020. The success of this business model can not only be seen in the airline’s profitability but also in the increasing demand for this type of service in the aviation industry. As low-cost carriers continue to increase their market share in the air transportation sector, passengers are more inclined to choose what they want to pay for when flying.

The global airline a-la-carte services market is projected to witness substantial growth, reaching a CAGR of 13.2% throughout the period from 2025 to 2035. Market forecasts suggest that the market value will rise from USD 202 billion in 2025 to USD 700.8 billion by 2035, primarily driven by the increasing demand for personalized and flexible travel experiences.

Metrics	Values
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 202 billion
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 700.8 billion
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	13.2%

Country-Wise Analysis

Countries	CAGR (2025 to 2035)
USA	7.8%
UK	7.5%
European Union	8.1%
Japan	7.9%
South Korea	8.3%

Competitive Landscape

Company Name	Estimated Market Share (%)
Ryanair Holdings	18-22%
American Airlines Group	15-20%
Delta Air Lines	12-16%
Lufthansa Group	10-14%
Southwest Airlines	6-10%
Other Companies (combined)	30-40%

The size of the Low-Cost Carrier Market was valued at USD 203.1558638 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 584.64 billion by 2032, with an expected CAGR of 16.30% during the forecast period. Recent developments include: For instance,May 2022 Southwest Airlines plans to invest $2 billion in improving the traveler experience. There are significant upgrades on all new aircraft deliveries, such as improved WiFi and power outlets at each seat., For instance,April 2022 The Jetstar Group and IndiGo announced a new Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) interline partnership in April 2022. As a result, Jetstar customers will now be able to book connections and flights on Indigo services through the Jetstar Connect platform.. Key drivers for this market are: Growing disposable income and desire for budget travel

Expansion of LCCs in emerging markets. Potential restraints include: Competition from legacy carriers and other modes of transportation. Notable trends are: Increasing demand for air travel is to boost market growth.