Nearly a billion passengers flew in the U.S. last year, on domestic and foreign airlines, but rising fuel costs and fares in the year ahead may slow or stop the growth.
The Department of Transportation broke down the numbers to show 741.6 million passengers on domestic flights, up 4.8%, and another 223.4 million on flights to or from the U.S. Air passenger traffic has been rising steadily since the big drop in the economic collapse of 2008. Overall, growth was 3.4%
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson had a half-percent drop in passengers, but still led the pack with 50.2 million; as usual, New York JFK led with the most international passengers. In passenger terms, Southwest led with 157.7 million, while American had the most international passengers.
Here are the top 10, in millions of passengers:
1. Southwest | 157.7 |
| 6. SkyWest | 35.8 |
2. Delta | 145.6 |
| 7. Alaska | 26.1 |
3. American | 144.9 |
| 8. Spirit | 23.8 |
4. United | 107.2 |
| 9. Republic | 16.9 |
5. JetBlue | 40 |
| 10. Frontier | 16.8 |
If #6 and #9 seem unfamiliar, it’s not surprising. They have few flights under their own names, and operate under contract as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.
