Quantcast

US airlines prepare fleets for holiday season demand

A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
US Senate panel criticizes rising airline seat fees, will call execs to testify
Spirit’s Demise Is a Lesson in ‘Airline-o-nomics’
Inside BA’s new first-class suites: £800 an hour for most private seat
Focus: US airline flight crews confident and angry as unions seek richer contracts
Hawaiian Airlines Eliminates Widebody Route Amid Alaska Airlines Merger
US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems?
Delta CEO says the Trump administration will reverse government ‘overreach’ seen under Biden
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy: How will it affect your travel plans?
British Airways yet to identify cause of latest IT meltdown
Delta Airlines Will Start Serving Shake Shack Cheeseburgers Next Month
United Sees Nearly 30% Surge in Travel to European Christmas Markets
Budget airline Israir to launch flights between Israel and NY, ending wartime monopoly by flagship carrier El Al
Asia's airlines blame supply chain woes for disrupted operations
Qantas and Qatar Airways: Planned partnership in the Australian aviation industry under the microscope
Spirit Airlines delays release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
Delta investigating after plane’s nose mysteriously suffered damage
What Elon Musk's Starlink means for airlines
CAP OFF Major twist in Dublin Airport passenger cap row as High Court pauses decision in victory for airlines next summer season
Riyadh Air plans new jet order decision early next year
Calls for a blanket ban on politicians receiving free flight upgrades
Wizz Air Loses Challenge Against EU-Approved Romanian Aid for TAROM
Southwest, Other Airlines Plan a Shake-Up. Why They Need More to Boost Their Stocks.
One of Boeing's biggest customers leveled fresh criticism over ongoing 737 Max delivery delays
Low-Cost Airlines Innovate with Subscription Models
LA Considers $25 And $30 Minimum Wages For Hotel And Airport Workers
Airlines are on the hook for more than you think if something goes wrong with your trip
WA Labor & Industries plans to create new airline worker protections
US airlines prepare fleets for holiday season demand
Policy
Webp 5r3vc2svdh8ibaxk8gr8iutw0za2
Simple Flying | Simple Flying

As the holiday season approaches, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines are preparing for a surge in passenger traffic. According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, these major US carriers are deploying their fleets strategically to meet increased demand in December 2024. Narrowbody and widebody aircraft will be essential in accommodating passengers during this period.

Narrowbody aircraft form the backbone of domestic travel in the US. Their efficiency makes them suitable for shorter routes and frequent flights. American Airlines leads with 91,824 scheduled narrowbody flights for December, followed by Delta with 88,130 flights and United with 73,101 flights. Collectively, they plan to operate 253,055 narrowbody flights.

In terms of seat capacity and Available Seat Miles (ASMs), American Airlines offers 15,454,334 seats and 15,972,987,202 ASMs. Delta provides 14,535,949 seats and 14,748,547,215 ASMs. United has 11,932,964 seats and 13,870,663,146 ASMs.

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.

American operates a diverse fleet of Airbus and Boeing narrowbody jets including Airbus A319s and A321s as well as Boeing 737-800s and MAX 8s. United relies on Boeing for its narrowbody operations but also uses older models like the Airbus A319s and A320s. Delta operates a mix of Airbus A319s and A321s along with various Boeing models including the Boeing 757 series.

Network strategies differ among these airlines: American's hub structure focuses on Dallas-Fort Worth; Delta optimizes connections through hubs like Atlanta; United connects passengers to both domestic and international destinations.

Widebody aircraft play a key role in long-haul international flights. United leads in widebody operations with 9,436 scheduled flights for December while Delta has 7,591 flights and American has 4,985. In terms of seat capacity and ASMs: United offers over two million seats; Delta provides nearly two million; American supplies more than one million.

United's dominance is attributed to its focus on international expansion across the Pacific using a substantial fleet of Boeing widebodies like the Boeing777-300ERs. Delta leverages its transatlantic presence from Atlanta supported by joint ventures with European carriers using Airbus A330s/A350s alongside Boeing767s. American deploys its widebodies across Latin America/Europe/Asia utilizing various Boeing models including Dreamliners.

Each airline’s hub strategy influences their widebody operations: United leverages San Francisco/Newark hubs; Delta's Atlanta hub remains pivotal; American focuses on Latin America via Dallas/Fort Worth/Miami hubs during holidays.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Long Beach Airport has announced a new daily nonstop service to Baltimore Washington International (BWI) through Southwest Airlines.

Jun 7, 2025

Lidl workers in Belgium initiated a strike and blockades on June 5, following similar actions in France and Italy.

Jun 6, 2025

Delta Air Lines is expanding its flight offerings for the 2025 pro football season, introducing new routes and increasing capacity to accommodate fans traveling to major games.

Jun 6, 2025

National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen addressed the U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee, emphasizing the urgent need to reform the nation's air traffic control (ATC) infrastructure.

Jun 6, 2025

Last month, over 130 volunteers from Delta Air Lines and several partner organizations collaborated to construct a new playground in College Park, Georgia.

Jun 6, 2025

Walking together on Omaha Beach, 19-year-old college student Caleb Walker and 101-year-old WWII veteran Jack Myers reflected on the sacrifices made during the D-Day invasion.

Jun 6, 2025