Number of aircraft in the U.S. commercial aircraft fleet 2006-2021

In 2020, there were about 5,882 aircraft in the U.S. commercial aircraft fleet. This figure is forecasted to decrease to 5,791 aircraft in 2021.

Aviation in the U.S.

Established in the 1920s, the U.S. aviation industry grew at an exponential rate since 1950s. Aviation industry’s growth in the U.S. intensified additionally as a result of the need to travel more and less well-advanced other public transport methods, such as trains or busses. As of 2019, the U.S. has the most connected aviation industry worldwide, which was based on a composite measure for the global air transport network. Development of the aviation industry continues to surge in the country at a rapid pace. Since 2004 the revenue streams of U.S. airlines grew by 110 billion U.S. dollars, reaching over 247 billion U.S. dollars in 2019. In 2019, Southwest Airlines was the leading airline in the U.S. by brand index, which is based on overall brand health as a weighted average of quality, value, satisfaction and reputation.

Southwest Airlines

Founded in 1967 and based in Dallas, Texas, Southwest Airlines is the largest low-cost carrier (LCC) worldwide. When it was established, the company went through an arduous procedure before becoming a major firm for air transportation in the U.S. Yet, LCC’s high cost and service effectiveness business model was sufficiently promising over the recent decades. This distinct business model of the airline fulfilled the vision of Southwest Airlines, namely connecting people at a low-price reliably. As of April 2021, the company was the seventh-largest airline based on sales globally. In 2020, Denver, Chicago, and Las Vegas were the main hubs for Southwest Airlines by the number of passengers. During the last decade, Southwest Airlines’ revenue passenger miles (RPMs) increased continuously, reaching over 131 billion RPMs.