Soaring beyond a pandemic-battered past with 4.57 billion passengers taking to the skies last year, the airline industry has not just recovered but is charting a course toward a record-breaking and increasingly complex future.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, global airline passenger numbers reached 4.57 billion, marking a 36.5% increase from 2022 levels
- Domestic U.S. airline passengers totaled 1.03 billion in 2023, up 8.4% from 2022
- International air passengers in Europe hit 567 million in 2023, recovering to 94% of pre-pandemic levels
- Global airline industry revenue reached $964 billion in 2023, up 24% from 2022
- Net profit for airlines worldwide was $30.5 billion in 2023, with 3.3% net margin
- Passenger revenue totaled $745 billion in 2023, 77% of total airline revenue
- Global active commercial aircraft fleet stood at 28,400 in 2023
- Narrowbody aircraft comprised 64% of global fleet at 18,200 units in 2023
- Worldwide aircraft deliveries reached 1,371 in 2023, up 7% from 2022
- Global aviation fatality risk fell to 1 in 13.7 million flights in 2023
- Zero fatal accidents involving jet aircraft over 14,000kg in 2023 globally
- IATA member airlines had 0.80 accidents per million sectors in 2023
- Global aviation emitted 915 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, 2.5% of total anthropogenic
- Jet fuel consumption reached 340 billion liters globally in 2023
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production was 0.6 million tonnes in 2023, 0.2% of jet fuel
Air travel soared past pre-pandemic levels globally, achieving record passengers and profitability.
Fleet and Capacity
- Global active commercial aircraft fleet stood at 28,400 in 2023
- Narrowbody aircraft comprised 64% of global fleet at 18,200 units in 2023
- Worldwide aircraft deliveries reached 1,371 in 2023, up 7% from 2022
- Boeing delivered 528 commercial airplanes in 2023
- Airbus handed over 735 aircraft in 2023, a record for the company
- Average fleet age globally was 12.5 years in 2023
- U.S. airlines operated 7,100 aircraft in 2023
- Low-cost carrier fleet grew to 9,500 planes worldwide in 2023, +4%
- Widebody aircraft numbered 6,200 globally in 2023, 22% of fleet
- Regional jets in service totaled 4,800 in 2023
- Global ASK (available seat kilometers) capacity expanded 32% in 2023 to 9.2 trillion
- Fuel efficiency improved by 2.6% per ASK from 2022 in 2023
- Orders for new aircraft backlog reached 16,000 planes worth $2.3 trillion in 2023
- Embraer delivered 73 jets in 2023
- Bombardier delivered 39 aircraft in 2023
- ATR delivered 31 turboprops in 2023
- China's COMAC C919 deliveries began with 2 units in 2023
- Retirement of older aircraft: 450 planes retired globally in 2023
- U.S. mainline fleet averaged 85% utilization in 2023
- Europe's fleet size was 5,200 aircraft in 2023
- Asia-Pacific fleet hit 9,800 planes in 2023, 35% of global
- Middle East carriers operated 1,100 aircraft in 2023
- Delta's fleet: 990 mainline aircraft as of 2023 end
- United's fleet grew to 952 aircraft in 2023
- Ryanair fleet: 565 Boeing 737s in FY2023-24
- Emirates fleet: 254 widebodies in FY2023-24
- IndiGo fleet reached 350+ aircraft in FY2023-24
- Southwest fleet: 817 Boeing 737s at end-2023
Fleet and Capacity Interpretation
While global airlines are cautiously flying a fleet older than the average TikTok user, they’re betting a king’s ransom on new fuel-efficient planes to ensure we can all continue to enjoy the timeless experience of a middle seat.
Passenger Volume
- In 2023, global airline passenger numbers reached 4.57 billion, marking a 36.5% increase from 2022 levels
- Domestic U.S. airline passengers totaled 1.03 billion in 2023, up 8.4% from 2022
- International air passengers in Europe hit 567 million in 2023, recovering to 94% of pre-pandemic levels
- China's domestic air travel passengers numbered 655 million in 2023, a 72.2% year-on-year increase
- Low-cost carriers carried 1.4 billion passengers globally in 2023, representing 31% of total traffic
- U.S. airlines enplaned 973 million passengers in 2023, including both domestic and international
- Asia-Pacific region saw 2.1 billion passengers in 2023, accounting for 46% of global total
- Leisure travel accounted for 62% of global airline passengers in Q3 2023
- Business travel passengers recovered to 85% of 2019 levels globally by end-2023
- Middle East airports handled 284 million passengers in 2023, up 42% from 2022
- Latin America air passengers reached 280 million in 2023, a 22% increase YoY
- African airlines carried 98 million passengers in 2023, up 20.6% from prior year
- India's airports handled 220 million passengers in FY2023-24, a record high
- Australia's domestic passengers numbered 64.5 million in 2023, up 12.5%
- Canada's air passengers totaled 132 million in 2023, recovering 95% of 2019
- Mexico's air traffic hit 94 million passengers in 2023, +25% YoY
- Turkey's airports served 217 million passengers in 2023, world's 4th busiest
- Global RPKs (revenue passenger kilometers) grew 37.9% in 2023 to 8.4 trillion
- Load factor averaged 82.6% globally in 2023, highest in a decade
- U.S. low-cost carriers saw 15% passenger growth in 2023 to 300 million
- Emirates carried 51.8 million passengers in FY2023-24, +19% YoY
- Delta Air Lines transported 200 million passengers in 2023
- Ryanair carried 152.7 million passengers in FY2023-24, +13% growth
- Southwest Airlines flew 137 million passengers in 2023, up 5%
- Air France-KLM group passengers reached 97.9 million in 2023, +24% recovery
- LATAM Airlines carried 73 million passengers in 2023
- Qantas flew 52.4 million passengers in FY2023-24, +17.4%
- IndiGo transported 102.65 million passengers in FY2023-24, +21% YoY
- American Airlines carried 215 million passengers in 2023
- United Airlines enplaned 167 million passengers in 2023, +18% from 2022
Passenger Volume Interpretation
The sky is once again crowded with humanity's restless spirit, as billions of us have collectively shrugged off the pandemic's gravity, racing to fill seats and skies at record rates, with leisure leading the charge, business trailing slightly behind, and budget carriers proving that nearly a third of us now prefer to fly cheaply and cheerfully.
Revenue and Profit
- Global airline industry revenue reached $964 billion in 2023, up 24% from 2022
- Net profit for airlines worldwide was $30.5 billion in 2023, with 3.3% net margin
- Passenger revenue totaled $745 billion in 2023, 77% of total airline revenue
- Ancillary revenue from airlines globally hit $119 billion in 2023, +10% YoY
- U.S. airlines operating revenue was $225 billion in 2023, up 17%
- Lufthansa Group revenue grew to €38.5 billion in 2023, +22% YoY
- Delta Air Lines reported $58 billion revenue in 2023, record high
- International passenger revenue recovered to 96% of 2019 levels in 2023
- Cargo revenue contributed $130 billion globally in 2023, 13% of total
- American Airlines revenue hit $52.8 billion in 2023, +8% YoY
- Ryanair's revenue reached €13.4 billion in FY2023-24, +49% growth
- Emirates Group revenue was AED 119.8 billion ($32.6B) in FY2023-24, +11%
- Southwest Airlines revenue $26.1 billion in 2023, up 12.1%
- Air France-KLM revenue €29.9 billion in 2023, +23% YoY
- United Airlines revenue $53.7 billion in 2023, +18.4%
- Global airline operating profit was $59.9 billion in 2023
- Fuel costs accounted for 28% of total airline operating costs in 2023 at $246B
- Labor costs rose to 23% of operating expenses globally in 2023
- Average airline net profit per passenger was $6.67 worldwide in 2023
- Europe's airlines posted €11.4 billion profit in 2023
- Asia-Pacific carriers earned $12.8 billion net profit in 2023
- North American airlines profit reached $18.1 billion in 2023
- Middle East airlines netted $5.2 billion profit in 2023
- Latin American carriers profited $2.1 billion in 2023
- African airlines achieved $0.8 billion profit in 2023
- IndiGo reported ₹81.6 billion ($980M) profit in FY2023-24
- Qantas Group profit after tax was A$2.41 billion in FY2023-24
- LATAM Airlines net profit $612 million in 2023
Revenue and Profit Interpretation
For all its turbulence, the airline industry has finally emerged from the storm, but passengers should note that with an average profit of just $6.67 per head, those extra bag fees are still very much carrying the load.
Safety Records
- Global aviation fatality risk fell to 1 in 13.7 million flights in 2023
- Zero fatal accidents involving jet aircraft over 14,000kg in 2023 globally
- IATA member airlines had 0.80 accidents per million sectors in 2023
- U.S. commercial aviation had zero fatalities in 2023 for Part 121 operations
- Global runway incursions reported: 1,200 in 2023, down 5%
- Bird strikes worldwide: 24,500 incidents in 2023
- Loss of control in-flight incidents: 12 globally in 2023
- Controlled flight into terrain events: 3 in 2023 commercial ops
- U.S. Part 121 accident rate: 0.09 per 100,000 departures in 2023
- Europe EASA airlines: 0.37 accidents per million flights in 2023
- Cargo aircraft accidents: 5 fatal in 2023 worldwide
- Turbine engine failure events: 450 in 2023 globally
- Windshear encounters: 1,200 reported in 2023
- Global aviation fatalities totaled 134 in 2023, lowest since 2020
- Runway excursions: 25 serious incidents in 2023 commercial jets
- TCAS RA (resolution advisories) triggered 1.2 million times in 2023 EU airspace
- U.S. GA (general aviation) fatal accidents: 208 in 2023
- Airprox incidents in UK: 156 in 2023
- Controlled rest on flight deck occurrences: 1,500 globally in 2023
- Laser attacks on aircraft: 13,000 incidents worldwide in 2023, up 7%
- Turbulence injuries: 320 serious cases reported in 2023
- icing-related incidents: 850 in 2023 globally
- Foreign object debris (FOD) ingestions: 2,100 engine events in 2023
- Australia CASA safety occurrence rate: 2.5 per 100,000 hours in 2023
- Brazil ANAC accident rate: 1.2 per million departures in 2023
- China CAAC zero major accidents for domestic airlines in 2023
- Aviation cybersecurity incidents: 650 reported in 2023
- Global airlines' IOSA audit pass rate: 92% in 2023
- U.S. on-time performance: 80.2% for 2023
- Delta's safety record: zero hull losses since 2010 through 2023
- Southwest's incident rate: 0.05 accidents per million departures 2023
- Emirates: no fatal accidents in 2023, 100% IOSA compliant
- Ryanair safety: 0.22 incidents per million flights in FY2023-24
Safety Records Interpretation
While commercial aviation, statistically speaking, is now so safe that you’re more likely to be done in by a rogue bird, a blinding laser pointer, or even just your own general aviation ambitions, the industry’s relentless vigilance over an endless parade of near-misses, metal fatigue, and human frailty is precisely what keeps those extraordinary odds in your favor.
Sustainability
- Global aviation emitted 915 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023, 2.5% of total anthropogenic
- Jet fuel consumption reached 340 billion liters globally in 2023
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) production was 0.6 million tonnes in 2023, 0.2% of jet fuel
- Airlines committed to net-zero carbon by 2050: 320 carriers covering 82% of traffic in 2023
- Carbon intensity per passenger-km improved 1.2% in 2023 to 78g CO2
- Fleet fuel burn efficiency rose 18% since 2019 by 2023
- Noise levels from new aircraft 50% lower than 2000 standards in 2023
- SAF offtake agreements signed: 45 billion liters by 2023 commitments
- EU ETS aviation emissions: 53 million tonnes CO2 in 2023
- CORSIA eligible emissions offset: 1.5% of 2023 baseline
- Airlines investing $130 billion in fleet renewal for efficiency 2023-2032
- Electric/hybrid aircraft in testing: 50 prototypes by end-2023
- Hydrogen aircraft concepts: 20 programs active in 2023
- Plastic waste from airlines: 1.2 million tonnes annually in 2023, reduction pledges by 50%
- Water usage in aviation: 450 million m3 for airports in 2023
- Biodiversity impact: 40 airports with restoration projects in 2023
- U.S. airlines SAF usage: 25,000 tonnes in 2023, up 300%
- Europe's SAF mandate: 2% minimum from 2025, planned post-2023
- Global airport electrification: 1,200 ground vehicles electric in 2023
- Carbon offset programs: 70% of airlines offering in 2023
- Nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions reduced 40% vs ICAO standards in 2023 fleet
- Single-use plastics banned by 50 airlines in 2023
- Delta's SAF investment: $100 million committed by 2023
- United's eco-skies alliance: 8 billion liters SAF offtake by 2023
- Lufthansa's SAF usage: 0.3% of fuel in 2023
- Emirates net-zero roadmap: $200 million green fund by 2023
- Ryanair 50% CO2 reduction target per passenger by 2030 from 2019, progress 15% by 2023
- Southwest carbon intensity: 65g CO2/RPK in 2023
- Qantas Project Sunrise efficiency: 30% less fuel per pax-km planned post-2023
- IndiGo fuel efficiency: improved 4% YoY in FY2023-24
Sustainability Interpretation
Despite lofty 2050 net-zero pledges, the aviation industry's current reliance on green promises over green fuel means we're trying to fly a plane by enthusiastically waving the instruction manual while using 99.8% of the old, dirty fuel.
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