United Airlines ranks third with 139,743 flights in December and shows a YoY growth of 10.9%. Southwest Airlines is fourth on the list with 118,966 scheduled itineraries; however, it is one of two U.S. carriers that reduced capacity compared to last year. In December 2023, Southwest had operated more flights—130,589 monthly—an 8.9% difference from this year.
The fifth-ranked airline group and first non-U.S. company is Ryanair with 74,773 flights this month. China Eastern Airlines holds sixth place as the leading Asian carrier with 68,685 flights.
The other two U.S. carriers are Alaska Airlines and JetBlue which have scheduled 36,773 and 28,321 flights respectively for December. Although Alaska merged with Hawaiian Airlines in September—Hawaiian has planned an additional 7,071 flights—the combined operations do not yet match their larger competitors.
Despite these numbers showing robust activity among U.S.-based airlines internationally in December compared to November there were notable reductions across all six carriers totaling a decrease of about 9% or roughly equal to removing almost ten thousand weekly itineraries from schedules within one month’s time span alone!
Specifically impacted were United (down nearly three thousand per week), followed closely behind by Southwest (also seeing similar declines) while smaller cutbacks came through less frequently at places like American (-1900); even fewer such changes occurred at JetBlue (-390).
"Interestingly," Cirium's Diio Mi airline planning system revealed "Southwest reduced its schedule by an astounding amount—a whopping reduction equating over ten thousand every single week!" Only another operator saw anything comparable when looking solely between years: Jet Blue also trimming back significantly."
In contrast though some adjustments made during Q4 offered bright spots overall despite current challenges faced industry-wide: companies like American updated guidance showing positive outcomes linked directly toward anticipated business upticks surrounding holiday periods & post-election climates alike!
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