Geographical advantages also play a role in each airline's dominance. British Airways connects London Heathrow to more U.S. destinations than any other European hub carrier; United dominates on the U.S. East Coast from Newark; Delta leverages Atlanta and Boston; Air France uses Paris Charles de Gaulle; Lufthansa operates from Frankfurt.
According to Diio Mi Market Intelligence data for 2025-2026, British Airways’ JFK-LHR route alone provides nearly 701,000 annual seats over almost 2,900 flights—amounting to more than 2.4 billion ASMs per year. United’s equivalent route produces about 1.46 billion ASMs annually, while Virgin Atlantic adds another 2.1 billion on similar services.
Air France’s New York–Paris Charles de Gaulle connection remains one of continental Europe’s strongest links at over 2.1 billion ASMs per year, while American Airlines’ Dallas-Fort Worth–London flight underscores the importance of secondary U.S. hubs feeding into major European gateways.
Traditional alliances—Oneworld (anchored by British Airways and American), Star Alliance (led by United), and SkyTeam (with Delta)—account for more than 85% of total transatlantic capacity according to Diio Mi data. The top ten carriers dominate roughly two-thirds of all seat miles flown between North America and Europe.
Revenue-sharing joint ventures give these alliances significant influence over scheduling and pricing across hundreds of daily flights between key cities on both continents:
"Oneworld's transatlantic joint venture... holds the largest single market share," states the analysis, "Between them, they offer over 200 daily flights and thousands of weekly seat combinations between the US and Europe."
Star Alliance offers integrated schedules that allow seamless connections across multiple hubs: "Star Alliance's strength lies in its reach... giving the alliance broader coverage."
SkyTeam completes this dominant group with strong customer loyalty programs: "For travelers, the experience feels unified... it's a well-coordinated challenge that keeps the market balanced."
Low-cost newcomers are testing new models in this space as well—Norse Atlantic offers aggressively priced fares using Boeing 787 Dreamliners on major city pairs like New York–London–Oslo; Icelandic PLAY uses Reykjavík as a connecting point for smaller markets on both sides of the ocean with Airbus A320neo aircraft targeting price-sensitive travelers.
Other regional operators—including TAP Air Portugal leveraging Lisbon as a gateway—continue to provide diversity despite holding smaller shares of total ASM figures.
Fleet modernization is influencing strategy: newer aircraft such as Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s enable airlines to open thinner routes profitably—expanding options beyond traditional city pairs like Austin-Amsterdam or Raleigh-Durham–London.
Consistency in timing and frequency is crucial for winning passenger loyalty: "A single daily flight may capture attention," notes the report, "but consistent, well-timed schedules win loyalty."
Looking ahead, ultra-efficient narrowbody jets such as Airbus A321XLRs are already allowing carriers like JetBlue to cross the Atlantic economically from New York to London—a trend expected to broaden access further in coming years.
While legacy carriers supported by alliances still hold most capacity—and profitability—the competitive landscape is evolving due to low-cost innovation and fleet advancements:
"For now," concludes the analysis, "the transatlantic crown still rests with established giants... forming the arteries that keep international aviation moving between [these] two most connected continents."
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