Cirium reported that 2024 set a record for global aviation with 5.85bn available passenger seats, surpassing the previous record of 5.72bn in 2019 by 2pc.
Seat capacity grew by 6pc year-on-year in 2024, despite the total number of scheduled flights at 36.4m being 5pc below 2019 levels, indicating airlines’ focus on larger aircraft.
American Airlines led in passenger seat offerings, followed by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, with Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport recognised as the busiest globally, offering over 62.7m departing seats.
The average flight capacity rose to 161 seats in 2024, compared to 150 seats in 2019, with airlines improving efficiency through the use of larger aircraft and optimized seating configurations.
Jeremy Bowen, CEO of Cirium shared, “Looking back on 2024, it is clear that demand for air travel continued to rise, with airlines matching this demand by providing a record-breaking 5.85bn seats globally.
Irish airport passenger numbers passed 50m for the first time in 2024, up 6.6pc on 2023 and 6.9pc on pre-pandemic.
See more of Cirium’s aviation analytics and detailed insights at www.cirium.com
