In the year leading up to April 2025, the average seat load factor (SLF) for all US routes hit 83.1%, according to an analysis of over 9,000 markets using data from the US Department of Transportation. While SLF is a key performance indicator, it’s crucial to consider the context in which these numbers are achieved. Some routes with high SLFs might not have had much passenger traffic due to being new, having low frequency, or operating for a limited time. To ensure a comprehensive analysis, only routes with at least 10,000 round-trip passengers were considered.
It’s no surprise that three Chinese markets made the list of routes with the highest SLFs. Even after the COVID-19 pandemic, capacity remains limited, especially on the Guangzhou to New York JFK route, which had a remarkable SLF of 95.2%. This route was served by a weekly Boeing 777-300ER flight from China Southern, a stark contrast to 2019 when the airline operated up to two daily flights. Similarly, the Tel Aviv-New York JFK route saw an average SLF of 95.0% across its three carriers. The ongoing conflict has kept capacity tight, leading to high fares and loads. This situation prompted Arkia to enter the market in February 2025, and Israir received permission to resume US flights in mid-July. Delta briefly returned to this route in April 2025 and plans to resume service on September 1, shortly after United restarted flights from Newark to Israel.
Here’s a quick look at some of the top routes with impressive SLFs: Xiamen to Los Angeles with Xiamen Air at 96.7%, Guangzhou to New York JFK with China Southern at 95.2%, and Doha to Dallas/Fort Worth with Qatar Airways at 95.0%. Other notable mentions include Tel Aviv to New York JFK, Dallas Love to Boston, and Dallas/Fort Worth to Honolulu. These routes demonstrate the dynamic nature of air travel and the factors influencing SLF. #AviationTrends #AirTravel #SeatLoadFactor
Originally reported by Simple Flying Read More
