The United States, boasting the world’s largest aviation market, is experiencing a surge in air travel. This September, each of the top ten busiest domestic routes offers nearly a quarter of a million seats. Leading the pack is the bustling route from Las Vegas (LAS) to Los Angeles (LAX), showcasing the enduring popularity of key domestic travel corridors.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) plays a pivotal role in the list of busiest routes, solidifying its status as a major aviation hub. The route from Las Vegas to Los Angeles boasts a staggering 285,893 seats, taking the top spot. Following closely is the Los Angeles to San Francisco route, offering 281,564 seats, reflecting a 2% increase in seat availability compared to the previous month. Rounding out LAX’s trio of top routes is the flight from New York JFK to Los Angeles, providing 271,427 seats. Notably, while LAX previously featured additional top routes to Honolulu and Chicago O’Hare, these have dropped out of the top ten for September.
New York City’s airports also host three of the nation’s busiest domestic routes. In addition to the JFK to LAX route, LaGuardia Airport plays a significant role. The New York LaGuardia to Chicago O’Hare route, with 278,342 seats, ranks as the third busiest, although it has slipped one place. Another busy corridor is the route from Atlanta to New York LaGuardia, offering 254,214 seats, currently ranking seventh. These figures highlight the sustained demand for air travel to and from New York City.
Denver International Airport has surged in the rankings with three routes in the top ten. The eighth, ninth, and tenth busiest routes are Denver to Phoenix (244,981 seats), Denver to Chicago O’Hare (229,721 seats), and Denver to Las Vegas (224,536 seats), respectively. Each of these routes has moved up to secure a spot in the top ten, showcasing Denver’s growing importance as a key hub in the U.S. aviation network.
Additional high-traffic routes for September include Atlanta to Orlando, which ranks fifth with 275,179 seats, and the inter-island Hawaiian route from Honolulu to Kahului, offering 272,812 seats. The latter, Kahului Airport on Maui, is a primary destination for flights originating from Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Notably, the Honolulu to Kahului route remains the only non-contiguous U.S. route in the top ten, following the exclusion of the Anchorage to Seattle route from this month’s rankings.
The busiest domestic routes in the U.S. show a gradual decrease in demand, with no abrupt drop-off between them. The Las Vegas to Los Angeles route leads with 285,893 seats, while the tenth-busiest, Denver to Las Vegas, offers 224,536 seats—a modest difference of just over 20% or 61,237 seats. This even distribution underscores the widespread demand for domestic air travel across the country.
These insights into September’s busiest domestic flight routes highlight the dynamic nature of the U.S. aviation market, reflecting shifting travel patterns and the enduring appeal of major urban and leisure destinations.
