Number of Flights Worldwide in 2024: Passenger Traffic, Behaviors, and Revenue

The number of domestic and global airline flights worldwide is an estimated 22.2 million in 2021 (IATA, 2021). After a consistent upward trend until 2020, COVID-19 occurred and brought its 3.2% annual growth to a steep decline of 46.77%, as of February 2021 (OAG, 2021). This resulted in a net loss of $118.5 billion in 2020 and is expected to continue in 2021, which has a predicted $15.8 billion net loss by the end of the year (IATA, 2020).

2020 was the worst year in history in terms of air travel demand, with the rate for international travel dropping by 75.6% and domestic travel by 48.8% (IATA, 2021). Furthermore, the numbers are down across all metrics, from air traffic to bookings. A slight recovery is expected in 2021 but the outlook is still dim due to the persistence of COVID-19 globally.

This article looks into the airline industry’s number of flights and passengers, flight statistics, traveler demographics, and industry growth projections by looking into the following topics:

How many airline flights occurred in the world per day in 2021?

How many airline flights per year?

The year 2020 had over 16 million global flights. Prior to COVID-19, the Federal Aviation Administration affirms its Air Traffic Organization (ATO) has handled 45,000 local flights a day or over 16,405,000 a year (FAA, 2020).

How many people fly each year worldwide?

The number of passengers who flew in and out of US airports was 2,900,000 (FAA, 2020) based on data from the FAA prior to the pandemic. Worldwide passenger numbers from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) place the number of people who flew annually at 4.5 billion.

What percentage of the world flies?

Dennis A. Muilenburg, former Boeing CEO, has claimed that only about 20% of the world’s population has traveled by air. This is roughly 1.5 billion people. For Americans, the results show 40% have never left the country while 13% have never flown on a plane (Forbes, 2019).

Airlines with the most flights

With over 1,100 airlines and a market of over 7 billion potential flyers, only a limited number of airlines handle multiple flight legs and millions of passengers. In terms of fleet size and the number of passengers, American Airlines is number one (Flight Airline Business, 2020, Blue Swan Daily, 2019).

How many international airlines are there in the world?

The IATA and ICAO, leading groups in aviation and the airline industry, has assigned airline codes to over 5,000 airlines that offer local, regional, and international airlines. The actual number of commercial airlines total 1,126. Europe has the highest number of commercial airlines while the Australasian and Pacific region has the smallest.

Airlines with the most international flights

There are 195 countries where people can travel to—flights come and go to these countries; international flights available from various global carriers. An unexpected airline, Turkish Airlines, earns the top spot operating flights to 62% of the world’s countries (Flight Delayed, 2019). Its strategic location—a middle point for Europe, Asia, and Africa—allows it to service over 60 million passengers a year.

Airlines with most canceled flights

Flight delays and cancellations are common occurrences in airports. Flight cancellations cost American commercial airlines $22 billion annually. The year 2001 saw the highest number of flight cancellations from major American carriers with 231,200 canceled flights. The lowest number of flight cancellations was in 2002 at 65,140.

These disruptions came after the 9/11 attacks; a time when airport check-ins and security saw an extensive overhaul and TSA patdowns and body searches became the norm. Cancellations for 2019 saw an increase of 5.74% with rates climbing back again since 2017. In January 2020, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics states domestic flight cancellations were at 1.3%, higher than December 2019 rates (1.1%) but 64.52% lower compared to January 2019 rates (3.15) (Bureau of Transportation, 2020).

According to a 2020 study by Colibra, there is an airline whose vast majority of flights result in cancellations. Air Arabia has the highest frequency of cancellations among all airline companies with a startling 91.63% (Colibra, 2020), followed by China Eastern Airlines (37.62%) and AOM French Airlines (32.35%).

Airlines with the most delayed flights

Jin Air has the highest percentage of delayed flights at 85.48% (Colibra, 2020), which was followed by another South Korean budget airline Jeju Air with a percentage of 64.15%. Indonesia’s Lion Air came in third while fourth place belongs to Ethiopian Airlines.

Airline with most on-time flights

Data from OAG reveals that Hawaiian Airlines leads the pack in terms of punctuality with an on-time percentage of 87.40% (OAG, 2020). Delta Airlines comes in second with 83.56%, followed by Alaska Airlines and Spirit Airlines. Two of Delta’s competitors, American Airlines and United, takes the 8th and 9th spots, respectively.

Airline flight stats by country

The aviation industry was devastated by COVID-19 in 2020 and the succeeding year won’t likely exhibit a full recovery. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 65 airline companies canceled all of their flights (Airsavvi, 2020). In addition, the number of flights worldwide decreased by 22.5 million compared to that of 2019 (IATA, 2020). The year-on-year flight frequency for nearly the entire 2020 was down and it extended to the beginning of 2021.

Worldwide passenger traffic sank across all regions worldwide in 2020 due to the ongoing pandemic (IATA, 2021). The hardest hit were the Middle East and the Asia Pacific regions but COVID-19 sent aviation industries in every continent reeling.

In 2021, the Asia Pacific region owns the biggest share of the global aviation industry at 38.64% (IATA, 2021). Europe comes in second as it has overtaken North America in terms of market share.

Countries with the most number of flights

The US leads in number of passengers carried, 926.74 million, in 2019 (The Global Economy, 2019). China claims the second spot with more than 659 million passengers, followed by Ireland with over 170 million. International flights typically use an Airbus A380, which has a seating capacity of 868.

The numbers can be confusing with stats claiming varied data about air travel in the US.

Although incomes are dropping and its middle-class is shrinking, the US remains a popular tourist destination and continues to be a tourist draw. Its biggest market is local–67.3% are intraregional travelers while the other 32.71% flew to other continents. Meanwhile, for US travelers, Mexico comes as the most popular international destination (Statista, 2020).

Which country goes abroad the most?

In 2019, Finland topped the list of countries whose people travel the most. The Northern European country averaged 7.5 trips per person per year. The US is in second place with 6.7 trips per person but leads in domestic trips with 6.5 trips per person; data corroborates intraregional traveler data in the previous section. All of the ten countries in the list are classified as First World with high living standards (World Atlas, 2019).

Traveler demographics and behaviors

Traveler preferences and attitudes have changed post-9/11 alongside sweeping technological advancements in the airline industry. General traveler satisfaction after a flight is steady at 75% for the last three years (2017 – 2019). The scores vary depending on location with Africa garnering the lowest passenger satisfaction score of 40%.

Passenger satisfaction drivers include check-in—self-service or traditional, boarding, inflight entertainment, and border control and immigration, among others. The last of the aforementioned hovers at 62%–64% based on the results from 2017–2019.

What age group travels the most?

The general and widely held view is that Millenials and Gen-Z are the age groups that travel the most. Data from IATA’s Global Passenger Survey reveal three age groups who travel the most: Gen Y, Millenials, and Gen X. Of the three, Millenials or those in the 35–44 year-old range flies the most, internationally and domestically.

Traveler preferences based on gender

Business travel arrangements were primarily booked by women as stated in a 2018 study (Medium, 2018). Some of the interesting outcomes from the survey include: Women like to travel solo and they often do the bookings. In fact, 80% of travel decisions are made by women (Gutsy, 2019).

Which gender travels more?

IATA’s study shows a 41.27% skew in favor of males when it comes to travel. Data for the last five years show that men travel three times more than women. The same ClosinGap study points out that although men travel more, women spend more during travel. Travel expenses are centered on hotels and tourist services. The study further notes that if women were to travel as much as men did, they would be able to generate 2.35 billion euros a year.

Airline Revenue

The IATA and ICAO report worldwide revenue based on passenger air traffic at $567 billion for 2019. Market projections for 2020 were positive in the last quarter of 2019 with 40.3 million flights forecasted. This approximates to an expected $581 billion in revenue earnings for 2020.

Two leading airline groups are neck and neck in revenues earned for 2019: American Airlines with $44.54 billion and Delta Airlines with $44.44 billion. FedEx, at number five with $37.33 billion, does not fly passengers commercially but only deals in moving cargo.

Airline travel in the time of COVID-19

Major adjustments were seen in the market projections of airlines in recent weeks in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major airlines scrambled to reshuffle and reschedule flights with multiple countries crossing their borders effectively shutting down travel. Business Insider reports over 50 airlines have scaled back operations or have temporarily shut down due to loss of demand for flights (Business Insider, 2020).

Countries With Completely Closed Borders Due To Covid-19

How does sustainability impact the airline industry’s future?

As the airline industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, sustainability is becoming a critical focus for both airlines and passengers. The industry’s reliance on fossil fuels and its contribution to carbon emissions have prompted calls for greener practices. Here are some key points about sustainability and its impact on the future of air travel:

• Carbon Emissions: Airlines are significant contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions. In 2019, the aviation industry accounted for about 2.5% of global CO2 emissions (International Council on Clean Transportation, 2020). As demand for air travel increases post-pandemic, emissions are expected to rise unless sustainable practices are implemented.
• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): SAF is being explored as a greener alternative to traditional jet fuel. Produced from renewable sources, SAF can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%. Major airlines like United and Delta are investing in SAF as part of their long-term sustainability strategies.
• Carbon Offsetting: Many airlines offer passengers the option to offset the carbon footprint of their flights. This involves contributing to environmental projects, such as reforestation, to compensate for the emissions generated during travel.
• Technological Innovations: Airlines are also investing in technologies like electric aircraft and hybrid engines to reduce fuel consumption and emissions in the long term.

Sustainability will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the airline industry as both environmental regulations and consumer demand for greener travel increase.

Key Insights

• Impact of COVID-19: The pandemic caused a significant decline in air travel, with a 46.77% drop in flights in 2020 and an expected net loss of $118.5 billion in 2020, with a further $15.8 billion loss projected for 2021.
• Recovery Expectations: A slight recovery is expected in 2021, but the outlook remains uncertain due to the ongoing global impact of COVID-19.
• Flight Frequency: In 2021, the number of daily flights was around 151,435, still lower than pre-pandemic levels of 2019 which saw 106,849 flights per day.
• Passenger Numbers: Prior to the pandemic, 4.5 billion passengers flew annually worldwide, with 2.9 million flying in and out of US airports daily.
• Airline Performance: American Airlines led in terms of passengers carried, with over 215.2 million passengers, followed by Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines.
• International Flights: Turkish Airlines operates flights to the most countries, covering 62% of the world’s countries.
• Flight Cancellations and Delays: Air Arabia had the highest flight cancellation rate at 91.63%, while Jin Air had the highest delay rate at 85.48%. Hawaiian Airlines had the most on-time flights at 87.4%.
• Regional Market Share: In 2021, the Asia Pacific region held the largest share of the global aviation market at 38.64%.
• Traveler Demographics: Millennials (ages 35-44) are the most frequent flyers. Men travel more frequently than women, although women make 80% of travel decisions.
• Revenue Impact: Global airline revenue was $567 billion in 2019, with a projected revenue of $581 billion for 2020 before the pandemic impact.

FAQ

1. How has COVID-19 affected the airline industry? COVID-19 caused a dramatic decline in air travel demand, with a 46.77% drop in flights in 2020. The industry experienced a net loss of $118.5 billion in 2020 and is projected to lose an additional $15.8 billion in 2021.
2. How many flights occur daily worldwide? As of February 2021, there are approximately 151,435 flights daily worldwide, down from 106,849 flights per day in 2019 before the pandemic.
3. Which airline carries the most passengers? American Airlines carries the most passengers, with over 215.2 million passengers annually.
4. Which airline flies to the most countries? Turkish Airlines flies to the most countries, covering 62% of the world’s countries.
5. Which airlines have the highest cancellation rates? Air Arabia has the highest cancellation rate at 91.63%, followed by China Eastern Airlines at 37.62%.
6. Which airlines experience the most delays? Jin Air has the highest delay rate at 85.48%, followed by Jeju Air at 64.15%.
7. Which airline has the most on-time flights? Hawaiian Airlines has the highest percentage of on-time flights at 87.4%.
8. What is the current market share of different regions in the aviation industry? The Asia Pacific region holds the largest share of the global aviation market at 38.64%, followed by Europe and North America.
9. What age group travels the most? Millennials, specifically those aged 35-44, are the most frequent travelers.
10. How much revenue did the global airline industry generate in 2019? The global airline industry generated $567 billion in revenue from passenger air traffic in 2019.
11. What are the top destinations for US travelers? The most popular international destinations for US travelers are Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
12. Which country’s residents travel the most? Finland’s residents travel the most, averaging 7.5 trips per person per year.

References:

1. Airsavvi (2020). Flight suspension rate of global airlines due to COVID-19 as of March 23, 2020. Retrieved from Statista
2. Bond, M. (2019, June 8). Women Travel Statistics from Women Travel Expert. Retrieved from Gutsy
3. Blijdenstein, J. (2019, January 16). Which airlines fly to the largest number of countries?. Retrieved from Flight Delayed
4. Blue Swan Daily (2019). Top Global Airlines in 2019, by Fleet Size. Retrieved from Statista
5. Buchholz, K. (2020, December 10). The Most Popular Destinations for U.S. Travelers Abroad. Retrieved from Statista
6. Colibra (2020, October 6). These are the airlines and airports with the most delays and cancellations, our new study reveals. Retrieved from Colibra
7. FAA (2020). Air Traffic By The Numbers. Retrieved from FAA
8. Flight Airline Business (2020, October). Leading airline groups worldwide in 2019, based on passengers. Retrieved from Statista
9. Flightradar24 (2021). Flight tracking statistics. Retrieved from Flightradar24
10. IATA (2020, November). Number of flights performed by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2021. Retrieved from Statista
11. IATA (2020, November 24). IATA Annual General Meeting 2020: Deep Losses Continue Into 2021. Retrieved from IATA
12. IATA (2021, February 3). 2020 Worst Year in History for Air Travel Demand. Retrieved from IATA
13. IATA (2020, November). Number of flights performed by the global airline industry from 2004 to 2021. Retrieved from Statista
14. McCarthy, N. (2020, March 31). COVID-19: Unprecedented Decline In Air Traffic. Retrieved from Statista
15. Novakova, S. (2018, July 6). Why women book more trips than men do. Retrieved from Medium
16. OAG (2021). The Journey to Recovery Starts Here: How and When Will Aviation Recover From COVID-19?. Retrieved from OAG
17. OAG (2020). Punctuality League 2020. Retrieved from OAG
18. Sheth, K. (2019, March 15). . Retrieved from World Atlas
19. The Global Economy (2019). Airline Passengers – Country Rankings. Retrieved from The Global Economy

By Allan Jay

Allan Jay is FinancesOnline’s resident B2B expert with over a decade of experience in the SaaS space. He has worked with vendors primarily as a consultant in the UX analysis and design stages, lending to his reviews a strong user-centric angle. A management professional by training, he adds the business perspective to software development. He likes validating a product against workflows and business goals, two metrics, he believes, by which software is ultimately measured.