The number of enplaned passengers in the United States followed an increasing trend with slight oscillations until the coronavirus pandemic. Due to border closures and stay-at-home requirements, the passenger volume dropped by 60 percent and amounted to 347.9 million travelers. However, American airline companies showed strong resilience to the narrowing down effects of the pandemic, and a strong recovery was recorded in the following years. As of 2023, around 865.6 million passengers traveled with American air carriers, the highest figure recorded in the given period.
Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023
(in 1,000s)
Characteristic
Number of passengers boarded in thousands
2023
865,586
2022
791,141
2021
632,441
2020
347,917
2019
860,066
2018
822,942
2017
680,889
2016
660,618
2015
601,240
2014
535,551
2013
599,405
2012
600,774
2011
591,825
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Number of passengers boarded in thousands1990199520002005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
0200,000400,000600,000800,0001,000,000
Add this content to your personal favorites. These can be accessed from the favorites menu in the main navigation.
You have no right to use this feature.
Make sure to contact us if you are interested in scientific citation.
You can upgrade your account to enable this functionality for all statistics.
This feature is not available with your current account.Request access
According to the source, data include nonstop scheduled service between points within the United States (including territories) by U.S. air carriers with at least one percent of the total domestic scheduled service passenger revenues and operate aircraft with a passenger capacity of 30 or more seats.
Data prior to 2022 was taken from previous editions.
The values were rounded.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
US Department of Transportation. (March 1, 2024). Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved February 19, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/
US Department of Transportation. "Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Chart. March 1, 2024. Statista. Accessed February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/
US Department of Transportation. (2024). Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: February 19, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/
US Department of Transportation. "Number of Passengers Boarded by The Largest U.S. Air Carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Mar 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/
US Department of Transportation, Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/ (last visited February 19, 2025)
Number of passengers boarded by the largest U.S. air carriers from 1990 to 2023 (in 1,000s) [Graph], US Department of Transportation, March 1, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/186184/passengers-boarded-by-us-air-carriers-since-1990/
Profit from additional features with an Employee Account
Please create an employee account to be able to mark statistics as favorites.
Then you can access your favorite statistics via the star in the header.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.