Despite all specialization US Airlines I reported high load factors, the Air Lines stood before its competitors, American, United, and Alaska, because of its distinguished services and international operations.
The importance of PLF for airlines
When all seats are on a full plane, this indicates that the demand is strong, the networks are well planned, and the revenue management systems are advanced. However, the full occupation of the passenger cabin represents difficulties for airlines that must achieve high load factors to achieve financial success.
Pollen loading factor (PLF) is a operating and financial performance indicator for commercial aircraft because it measures average aircraft passenger occupancy rates. The percentage of the value of dividing the miles of passengers is derived from the available seat miles. In simple phrases, the highest financial and operating PLF values mean better for an airline.
However, the operating costs of each trip require a specific download factor known as the “tie loading factor” to remain profitable, and the profit margins increase significantly with each percentage point that exceeds the draw point.
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The use of expensive aircraft assets reaches its peak when PLF numbers remain high. Strong demand for aviation methods and services, as shown in fixed and high loading factors, creates better opportunities for the high revenue revenue through pricing power.
Companies working in the airline sector depend on data on passenger loading factors that were measured in the past and future expectations to determine the tasks of the plane size, while making path planning decisions, flight scheduling and deployment of aircraft.

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The performance of airlines in the United States market
We can check the joint performance of all American air transport companies to understand the current market situation. The Transport Statistics Office (BTS) maintains wide records of US Air Transport Movement patterns.
According to their statisticsIn 2024, the system’s system loading factor for US transportation companies (including local and international flights, with the exception of Cargo services) reached 83.03 %. This is a slight increase of 82.92 %, which was achieved in the twelve months ending in December 2023.
BTS data – full public performance (January to December) |
||
---|---|---|
a period |
2023 |
2024 |
Miles RPMS (RPMS) |
1,083,400,934 (thousands) |
1,134,120,668 (thousands) |
Available seat miles (ASMS) |
1,306,525,224 (thousands) |
1,365,793,558 (thousands) |
Passenger download factor (PLF) |
82.92 % |
83.03 % |
The annual data shows a little, which indicates that the demand for airline passengers increased by a similar rate or slightly higher than the expansion of the flight. The data shows a little less than the standards of global industry International Air Transport Association Statistics (IATA) It indicates that seat occupancy rates amounted to 83.5 % in 2024 (record).
BTS data It also reveals that Delta, American, South West, and United control more than two -thirds of miles in local revenue in 2024 within the US local market.
PLF provides the system level general performance indicators, but the performance of the actual carrier shows a significant variation due to distinguished work methods along with networks and strategies.

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PLF results for 2023 and 2024
The loading factor for the Delta Airlines has reached 85.0 % over the full year, which has proven to be the highest among the US air transport companies.
Delta Air Lines leads the industry in the loading factor measurements because it emphasizes excellent services and international roads, which usually achieve a higher job of passengers.
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Delta Air Axis Network
It runs some of its most crowded ways
Between Atlanta (ATL), Orlando (MCO), New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (Lax) due to the demand for passengers and entertainment. The popularity of roads witnessed slight changes in 2024 because international travel began to recover from its decline.

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Alaska runs her main ways
Where Seattle (the sea) was to Portland (PDX) and Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO) is the most important.
The dominant roads carried by US Airlines
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) included Los Angeles (CLT) to Miami paths to enhance its southern and eastern operations. US Airways also published New European roads Through Philadelphia PHL for the summer of 2025.
United Airways witnessed a heavy passenger movement
Between Denver (Den), Chicago (Ord) and Niger (EWR) due to the wide axis network. UNIDANINES will also operate Tokyo flights (NRT) from San Francisco (SFO) Between May 2 and September 1, 2025.
Jetblue maintained a strong demand for its ways from the northeast to Florida, including Boston (BOS) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), however
It will cancel more than 50 roads
Which performs a bad performance and closed 15 Bluecities in 2025 under its jet plan to enhance profitability.
Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock
Jetblue directs its efforts towards the basic markets throughout the northeast and Florida while improving airports on LaX and Transatlantic airports. The airline is devoted resources to improve airport halls and operating systems to address industrial competition, and expects to create 800-900 million dollars from EBIT between 2025 and 2027 through its strategic modifications.
Spiritual Airlines, since then
Airlines provided bankruptcy of Chapter 11
In November 2024, it restructured its financial location while maintaining the continuing air operations. Through the bond owners agreements, the airline received more than $ 1.3 billion of available funds.
The American Court agreed
Spirition Airlines’ Chapter 11 Plan to reorganize bankruptcy
Which led to the control of the main bond company in March 2025.
Spirit Airlines decided not to integrate with Frontier airlines and chose to focus on reducing costs while reducing the fleet of aircraft and improving the distinguished services for passengers.
Last but not another, southwestern airlines have maintained the local road strategy
Expand the ability of the seat on Denver to Phoenix trips
.
Photo: Steve Hip Shutterstock
2025 may not be the strong year that American airlines expected
The four adults (Delta, American, United, and southwest) It kept nearly 70 % control of the seat capacity in the United States Through competitive environments extensively for the year 2023 and 2024.
but, According to ReutersAmerican airlines began to reduce their profit expectations due to economic instability, low government spending, and reduce travel demand. Delta, the American, and United reduced its profit expectations, causing stock prices significantly.
There January 10, 2025, press release, Delta expected that the March quarterly revenues would rise by 7 % to 9 %, with the share profits between $ 0.70 and $ 1.00. The airline also expected that the profits of the entire year exceed $ 7.35 per share and a free cash flow to exceed 4 billion dollars.
US Airways provided First quarter 2025 guidance During January 23, 2025, a press release predicted a modified loss for each diluted share.
United Airlines participated in an intense competition against American Delta and airlines on continents because it maintained a 16 % stake in the local market. In January 2025, Reclamation of profits from United He pointed out that the arrow’s profits (EPS) will grow during 2025.
Photo: Minh K Tran | Shutterstock
Southern West Airlines faced operational challenges This allowed low -cost transport companies, such as Spirit and Frontier, to enter the market, however, the Dallas -based airline has maintained the base of its loyal customers. In 2025, the southwest will consolidate its position, in an attempt to overcome the problems it has faced so far.
Alyaska Airlines showed a powerful performance of 2024
Despite the fleet of the fleet and the acquisition of Hawaiian airlines. The airline created itself as Western coast leader However, it faced the increasing competition from the major transport companies. The purpose of the integration, which was completed in September 2024, was to compete with the “big four”.
Jetblue lost the opportunity to get her soulWhich made it more vulnerable to budget tankers and created the giants of airlines.
The weak performance of Jetblue to adhere to dates and delay, According to Wall Street JournalShe underwent its position against competitors from each of the low -cost and legacy sectors after its departure from Lax as the city of Focus.
We have prompted economic uncertainty to reduce its flight until after the summer in order to prevent taxi discounts. Transport companies also implement the reservation plan changes with cost discounts to protect the profit generation margin policy.
The airline was the only one to grow in the stock market by eliminating the free luggage services that were examined, which achieved increasing revenues, southwestern airlines.