Industry Insights

How U.S. Airlines Soared in 2024

January 08, 2025

2024 brought another record-breaking year for U.S. airlines as millions of passengers and thousands of tons of cargo took to the skies every day! Here’s a look back on the spectacular performance U.S. carriers had last year:

Record Travel: In 2024, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saw 17 of its 20 busiest days in its history! TSA screened more than 3 million passengers on December 1, 2024 – the most ever by TSA. U.S. airlines were proud to safely transport millions of people and packages across the globe during the holiday season and throughout the year.

1 Million Workers: U.S. passenger and cargo airlines continued to hire at a brisk pace and reached their largest workforce ever, surpassing one million direct employees in 2024. From pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, customer service agents and more – these individuals are the backbone of our industry!

Addressing ATC Shortages: U.S. airlines were pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanded the Collegiate Training Initiative (CTI) program to include three colleges and universities last year, including the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Community College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. These programs are intended to aid in getting more air traffic controllers into the training pipeline and help mitigate the ongoing air traffic controller shortage amid the record air travel and increased dependence on air cargo shipments.

Nearly 99% of Flights Completed: U.S. airlines wrapped 2024 with a full-year completion factor – the portion of flights that arrived at their scheduled destination – of 98.6%.