Summary
- United Airlines has grow to be the world’s largest carrier by available seat miles (ASMs).
- Its rise was influenced by its longer average sector length and more seats per flight.
- The Star Alliance member is the leading carrier from the US to Europe, Asia, and Australasia.
United Airlines is the world’s largest airline by ASMs in 2023, surpassing American Airlines, which had been first for years. United became primary in March and has remained in that position ever since. Not surprisingly, American continues to be first by passengers, seats, flights, fleet, etc.
United: the world’s top carrier by ASMs
ASMs are an on a regular basis industry metric that refers to 1 seat flown one mile. Unlike seats and flights, that are also perfectly normal measurements I take advantage of day by day, ASMs reflect distance. Apart from distance, ASMs are influenced by the scale of an airline’s total operation, aircraft gauge, the variety of seats per flight, and the frequency of service.
Evaluation of Cirium data shows that United overtook American as its average sector length is 26.2% longer – up by three percentage points versus 2019 – while using equipment with a mean of two.2% more seats per flight.
Source of information: Cirium. Figure: James Pearson.
Quite a few aircraft deliveries, including many widebodies, have influenced United. This contributed to seats per flight rising by a fifth since 2019, from just 110 seats to 131, as the space they’re flying rose by 8%.
Additionally it is directly influenced by United’s ASM production surpassing what it had in 2019 (+3.1%), while American stays down (-3.0%), based on Cirium data. While little doubt just temporary, it’s a reminder of how things can and do change.
One in seven US long-haul ASMs
As you already know, United is the USA’s leading international carrier no matter whether ASMs, seats, or flights are used. It provides about one in seven of the country’s long-haul ASMs this 12 months, defined here as 3,000 miles (4,828 km) or more.
Long-haul ASMs as a proportion of United’s total have risen by one percentage point versus 2019 to 39%, while American has reduced from 27% to 24%. (Delta rose by one percentage point to 31%.)
Photo: Vicenzo Pace I Easy Flying
Cirium data shows that United is the leading carrier from the US to Europe, Asia, and Australasia. While it’s the biggest US operator to the Middle East, it’s third overall. It ranks second to South America (far behind American) and second to Africa (behind Delta).
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These areas have grown strongly
If ASMs in all of United’s international markets are considered, most have grown strongly versus 2019. No wonder Scott Kirby said last 12 months,
European ASMs have increased by 1 / 4, accounting for 43% of its international capability. While South America and the Middle East are much smaller parts of its network, ASMs have risen enormously, although each from small bases.
Source of information: Cirium. Figure: James Pearson.
While Africa’s ASMs in 2019 are virtually invisible within the figure, they’ve risen by 133 times (!), although the continent obviously stays a minuscule a part of its international operation. Asia is inevitably the laggard. ASMs are down by over a 3rd, even though it stays United’s second-largest international geographic area.
Growth outside Asia has been partly driven by recent widebody aircraft, but Asia stays a shadow of its former self. When will that continent return, and what impact will it have more widely? Tell us your thoughts within the comments.