2025 Was The Busiest Year For US Air Travel In More Than 15 Years, FAA Says

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced that 2025 marked the busiest year for U.S. air travel in over 15 years, managing a record 17.2 million flights despite challenges like air traffic control issues and a 43-day government shutdown. This surpassed the pre-pandemic peak of 2019 by roughly 200,000 flights, reflecting a strong post-COVID recovery. Flight volumes steadily climbed from 7 million in 2020 to 16.9 million in 2024 before hitting the new high.

American Airlines led globally with 2.3 million flights, followed by Delta (1.8 million) and United (1.7 million). The busiest day saw over 19.8 million seats worldwide on August 1. The FAA praised its staff for prioritizing safety amid surging demand.

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has overseen key FAA initiatives amid surging demand, including:

• Supercharging air traffic controller hiring (exceeding 2025 goals with 2,026 new hires).

• Launching plans for a brand-new air traffic control system to enhance safety and efficiency.

• Addressing challenges like the 43-day government shutdown's impact on staffing and flights.

His leadership emphasizes modernization, safety, and innovation in U.S. aviation.

From Simple Flying: 

“2025 marked the busiest year for US air travel in more than 15 years, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The country’s civil aviation agency oversaw 17.2 million flights during the year, despite repeated disruptions to the nation’s air traffic control system and the added strain of a 43-day government shutdown, both of which complicated flight operations.”

To read the full article from Simple Flying, click here.