Quantcast

Six airlines dominate Australia-US air travel market in 2024

Wizz Air becomes first airline to operate P&W-powered Airbus A321XLR jet
Hawaiian Airlines’ new ‘no show’ policy may make travel more expensive
BLIMP-SE OF THE FUTURE Luxury zeppelins of the future from ‘flying bum’ world’s largest aircraft to Google billionaire’s ‘impossible’ airship
Swiss Startup SmartFlyer Develops Hybrid-Electric Trainer
San Francisco-based entrepreneur takes a trip on India's worst-rated airline, his reaction will surprise you
First-Time Flyer at 81: A Grandmother's Memorable Journey
Global Airlines Launches Inaugural Flight, Aiming to Revive 'Golden Age of Travel'
Winning routes: American Airlines adds more than 22,000 seats for football fans following release of 2025–2026 pro schedule
Boeing scores Middle East plane deal during Trump visit
Air travel will be ‘worse’ this summer, lawmakers warn — as FAA gives infuriating update on system fixes, staffing issues
United Airlines CEO Reassures Passengers About Newark Airport Safety
American Testing Tech to Help Passengers Make Connecting Flights
British Airways to use AI in efforts to improve operations
American Airlines Tests New Tech to Help Passengers With Tight Connections During Summer Rush
Flight Diverted After Pregnant Woman on Board Goes into Labor and Delivers Her Baby: Report
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says "this is the most optimistic I've been in my entire career about finally getting the FAA fixed"
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Unveils Plan to Build Brand New, State-of-the-Art Air Traffic Control System
Passenger rushing for next flight can't believe what woman next to her does
Why fuel price crash won’t make flying cheaper
Kristi Noem says travelers without Real ID will still be able to fly after deadline
Frontier Airlines Announces New Routes Launching This Summer, Connecting Baltimore With Chicago O’Hare and Trenton, N.J. With Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Airlines in North America prioritize investments in cyber, AI
The evolution of the airline uniform — a cross check
Global Airlines & HiFly Operate 1st Passenger Airbus A380 Flight Between Barcelona And Berlin
American Airlines unveils ritzy new plane suites launching this summer
Airline Stocks To Keep An Eye On - April 28th
Gatwick Airport Faces Potential Strikes
50 New Routes Starting In May 2025
Report: JetBlue, United Mulling Partnership
New First-Class Suites, Futuristic Aircraft and the Top Air Travel News From April 2025
Six airlines dominate Australia-US air travel market in 2024
Policy
Webp q21f5nitffycj044lotyey7psz4t
Joanna Bailey Managing Editor | Simple Flying

Qantas leads Australia to US routes with the most flights and seats, closely followed by United Airlines. United Airlines is a member of Star Alliance and operates six routes with almost 4,000 flights in 2024. Delta Air Lines operates two routes from LAX to SYD and BNE, using the Airbus A350-900.

Australia to US routes have increased in recent years. In 2024, there are six airlines operating 21 routes over these long distances. It is probably no surprise that the Australian national carrier Qantas tops the list for routes, number of flights, and available seats. United Airlines is not far behind; however, it is a long way ahead of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines, followed by Jetstar, then Hawaiian Airlines.

The guide looks at the six airlines flying, their capacities, and what routes they are operating in 2024.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

1. Qantas - top place for routes and seats in 2024

The national carrier flies eight routes from Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

- Airline: Qantas

- No flights (2024): 4,176

- Total seats: 1,223,019

- Available Seat Miles (ASM): 9,174,554,396

- Routes operated: DFW to MEL/SYD; LAX to MEL/SYD/BNE; JFK to SYD (via AKL); SFO to SYD; HNL to SYD

- Aircraft types operated: Boeing 787-9; Airbus A380; Airbus A330

Qantas leads the way for Australia to US flights but is not that far ahead of United Airlines. In 2024, there are 4176 scheduled flights. It also works with its oneworld partner American Airlines. When these routes are considered together, the oneworld alliance is a clear leader for the routes.

Unsurprisingly, with so many routes, Qantas operates several aircraft types between Australia and the US. In the second half of 2024, the Boeing 787-9 appears on many routes. The A380 is used on some LAX to Sydney and Melbourne flights. The A330 also appears on HNL to Sydney and LAX to Brisbane.

Data in the article is from Cirium, an aviation analytics company. Flight data is based on the whole year of 2024 and aircraft utilized is based on the period July to December 2024.

2. United Airlines

United comes a very close second with six routes.

- Airline: United Airlines

- No flights (2024): 3,857

- Total seats: 1,115,091

- Available Seat Miles (ASM): 8.468355639

- Routes operated: SFO to MEL/SYD/BNE; LAX to MEL/SYD; IAH to SYD

- Aircraft types operated: Boeing 787-9; Boeing 777-300

Taking on Qantas and the oneworld alliance, United Airlines (as a member of Star Alliance) operates almost 4,000 flights on six routes between the countries.

United's largest operation is on the San Francisco to Sydney route which operates twice daily (only Delta Air Lines also does this - on the LAX to Sydney route). According to US Department of Transportation T-100 data, United launched the long route in 1994 and previously operated the Boeing 747 on it. It is now flown exclusively with its largest aircraft type—the Boeing 777-300.

The Boeing 777-300 is also found on some SFO to Melbourne and Brisbane flights—with all other routes using the Boeing 787-9.

3. Delta Air Lines

Third place but well behind for SkyTeam with less than 1,000 flights in 2024.

- Airline: Delta Air Lines

- No flights (2024):964

- Total seats:294984

-Available Seat Miles(ASM):2206250820

-Routes operated:LAXtoSYD,BNE

-Aircrafttypesoperated:A350900

DeltaAirLinescomesinsecondamongthemainUScarriers,butwhenyouconsiderthatthird-placeAmericanAirlineshasalliancepartnerQuantastosharewith,theSkyTeamallianceiswaybehind.DeltaoperatesonlytworoutesbetweenthecountriesfromLosAngelesLAXtoSydneyandBrisbane.ThesearebothoperatedwiththeAirbusA350900withtheSydneyflightbeingtheairline'sthirdlongestwiththetype(behindAtlantatoCapeTownandJohannesburg).TheBrisbaneflightonlystartedinearly2024—withDeltafollowingitscompetitorsinstartingdirectservicetothecity.

Related:

DeltaAirLinesUpsLAX-SydneyAirbusA350FlightsToDoubleDaily.Itisthecarrier'shighestfrequencytodate.

AmericanAirlines:

Boostingoneworld'sleadingpositionontheroutes:

-Airline:AmericanAirlines

-Noflights(2024):862

-Totalseats:259578

-ASM:1973545086

-RoutesoperatedDFWtoBNE,LAXtoSYD

-Aircrafttypesoperated:Boeing7879,Boeing777300

AmericanAirlinesmayoperatethefewestflightstoAustraliaoutofthethreemainUSairlines,buthasastrongpresencethroughitsoneworldpartnerQantas.Thetwoairlineshaveajointventureinplace,andcodeshareonroutesbetweenthecountries(andwithonwardconnections).Theairline’stworoutesarebetweenLosAngelesLAXandSydney(competingwithallthemainoperators)andbetweenDallasDFWandBrisbane.TheBrisbaneroutewasonlyannouncedinFebruary2024(tostartinOctober).Itwillbetheairline’slongestflighttodate.ItwillbeoperatedwiththeBoeing7879whereasSydneyflightsarealloperatedwithaBoeing777300.

Related:

AmericanAirlinesAnnouncedItsLongestFlightYetHere’sWhatIt’sReplacing.Thenewnon-stopservicewillcovermorethan8300miles.

JetStar:

Operatinglow-costflightstoHawaiifromSydneyandMelbourne:

-AirlineJetStar:Noflights(202457574)

-Totalseats192290ASMASM1004660980Routes:HNLtoSYDMELAircrafttypes:Boeing7878

Qantas’subsidiaryairlineJetStaralsooperatesflightsbetweenAustraliaandtheUStargetingaverydifferentmarketfromtheQantasandAmericanAirlinesscheduledflights.TheflightsprimarilyaimattheholidaymarketflyingtoHawaii.ItdoesnotflytotheUSmainland.ItsroutetoMelbourneisthelongestdirectflightoperatingfromHNL.BothroutesareflownusingtheBoeing7878andoperate severaltimesperweek(inearly202453timesaweekforSydneytwiceaweekforMelbourne).

HawaiianAirlines:

Justonedirectflightbutairlinehasonwardconnections:

-Airline:HawaiianAirlinesNoflights(532)

-Totalseats147896ASMASM749241136Routes:HNLtoSYDAircrafttypes:A330

HawaiianAirlinesfollowsbehindJetStaroperatingjustoneroutebetweenHawaii(HNL)andSydney.OfcoursetheairlinealsoconnectstotheUSmainland.Itnowcurrentlyfive timesaweekbutasscheduleschangeyear-round.HawaiianusesA330forthisroute.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employs a random and layered security measure known as "Secondary Security Screening Selection" or "SSSS."

May 31, 2025

The United States has halted certain sales of critical technologies to China, including those associated with CFM LEAP-1C engines used in China's Comac C919 jets.

May 31, 2025

The current Air Force One aircraft, used to transport the US President, are over 30 years old and in need of replacement.

May 31, 2025

The coronavirus pandemic severely impacted the commercial aviation industry, leading to significant challenges for aircraft manufacturers like Airbus.

May 31, 2025

Chicago O'Hare International Airport continues to lead as the world's busiest airport by flight movements, with 2,442 daily passenger aircraft operations in June.

May 31, 2025

A report released by UNI Global Union ahead of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) International Labour Conference calls for urgent measures to formalize the care sector and enhance union organizing.

May 31, 2025