North America

The U.S. Airlines Growing and Shrinking in 2025

Gordon Smith photo
Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat
American Airlines tails at Philadelphia

Photo Credit: American Airlines tails at Philadelphia International Airport. Philadelphia International Airport

Skift Take

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat crunch the big numbers to reveal which U.S. carriers are in expansion mode in the first quarter of 2025 and which operators are shrinking year-on-year.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat crunch the big numbers to reveal which U.S. carriers are in expansion mode in the first quarter of 2025 and which operators are shrinking year-on-year.

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Takeaways

  • The US airline industry is seeing a modest capacity increase of 1% for Q1 2025.
  • Delta Airlines is focusing growth on mid-continent hubs like Atlanta and Minneapolis.
  • United Airlines is experiencing the fastest growth among major carriers, with a 5% increase in capacity.
  • American Airlines is slowing down growth, particularly at major hubs like LAX and JFK.
  • Southwest Airlines is reducing capacity by 4% as part of a strategy to return to profitability.
  • Alaska Airlines is growing modestly at 2%, focusing on secondary markets.
  • JetBlue is shrinking overall by 3%, with significant cuts in Los Angeles and Newark.
  • Spirit Airlines is undergoing restructuring due to bankruptcy, leading to drastic capacity cuts.
  • Frontier Airlines is capitalizing on Spirit's struggles, with a 9% increase in capacity.
  • The competitive landscape is shifting, with low-cost carriers facing challenges while major airlines adapt to market demands.