Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 16
US Keeps Top Air Market at 890.1 Million Passengers as 2025 Growth Slows to 1.6%
Updated
Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 16

US Keeps Top Air Market at 890.1 Million Passengers as 2025 Growth Slows to 1.6%

3 articles · Updated · FRANCE 24 English · Jul 16

Summary

  • 890.1 million passengers flew domestically in the United States in 2025, keeping it the world's largest air market even as growth slowed to 1.6% from 2024—the weakest pace among the top 10 markets.
  • China reached 776.1 million passengers with 4.8% growth, narrowing the gap and reinforcing forecasts that it could overtake the US in the 2030s.
  • Airbus expects China's domestic market to exceed the US by about one-third by 2045, underscoring how the current ranking may shift despite the US lead.
  • 269.7 million passengers put the UK third, ahead of Spain at 252.7 million and Japan at 223.5 million, while the busiest US route—New York-Los Angeles—handled just 2.2 million travelers.

Insights

As China's aviation market prepares to dethrone the US, how will this reshape global economic power and supply chains?
Amid soaring fuel costs and ambitious net-zero goals, is the era of affordable global air travel coming to an end?
With an 18,000-plane order backlog, why are airlines relying on their oldest aircraft in history to meet travel demand?