Daily and hourly airport traffic is crucial for businesses related to airports, including airport authorities, airlines, retailers, ground handlers, rental car companies, and hotels. If you belong to any of these industries, utilizing daily airport traffic data can help you plan your operations, schedule your resources, forecast revenue, and plan budgets more accurately. Additionally, this data can help you target your marketing and promotional efforts more specifically, leading to more effective business strategies.
FlightBI collects and normalizes the airport passenger throughput data from US Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In addition, it has developed a product called Fligence TSA, which features a wide variety of data visualizations. FlightBI is currently offering a two-week, no-obligation trial of Fligence TSA for you to explore valuable insights from the airport traffic data.
This article summarizes US air traffic using the aforementioned tool, utilizing actual airport-level data as of Feb 1, 2025. Our analysis will examine trends in different segments of air travel, such as domestic versus international flights and leisure versus business travel. To learn more about the specific airports chosen to represent these markets, please refer to this article.
U.S. Airport Traffic Overview
The US airport system began 2025 on a strong note but experienced a sharp decline in passenger throughput during the first half of January. As illustrated in Figure 1, daily passenger volumes across all US airports started the year 4.6% higher than that in 2024. However, this initial surge was followed by a drop to a seasonal low. Fortunately, throughput rebounded before experiencing another dip, eventually aligning with last year’s levels. The forecast predicts a continued upward trajectory, reaching over 2.6 million daily passengers in March, which would be higher than any of the previous years.
Figure 1: US Overall Air Traffic Trend
Domestic Airport Traffic Indicator
Figure 2 highlights domestic travel at key airports, including Charlotte (CLT), Denver (DEN), and Phoenix (PHX), follows a similar upward trend. The post-holiday decline was followed by a rebound. The forecast suggests sustained growth through February and March, reflecting increasing business and leisure travel within the U.S. The upward trajectory aligns with patterns seen in 2024 but appears slightly stronger, indicating growing consumer confidence in air travel.
Figure 2: US Domestic Air Traffic Indicator
International Airport Traffic Indicator
In Figure 3, New York’s JFK Airport, a major hub for international travel, has also witnessed a steady increase in passenger numbers. The 2025 trend line shows a stronger start compared to previous years, with numbers already exceeding early 2024 figures. This suggests heightened demand for international travel, possibly due to easing restrictions and increasing global mobility. The forecast for the coming months remains optimistic, expecting international travel to continue its upward climb through spring.
Figure 3: US International Air Traffic Indicator
Leisure Air Traffic Indicator
Figure 4 provides an overview of the U.S. leisure air travel market. While the early January dip was in line with typical seasonal declines after holiday peaks, February has marked a resurgence. The forecast suggests continued momentum, likely driven by spring break travel and increasing demand for vacation destinations.
Figure 4: US Leisure Air Traffic Indicator
Business Air Traffic Indicator
Figure 5 illustrates the trend in business travel, showing that passenger traffic in January 2025 consistently exceeded 2024 levels on most days. Projections suggest that business travel will continue to gain momentum in the coming months, driven by the resumption of in-person meetings and conferences in the spring.
Figure 5: US Business Air Traffic Indicator
The latest passenger throughput data for U.S. airports indicates a strong resurgence in air travel demand, with 2025 figures already surpassing the previous two years. Forecasts suggest sustained growth across domestic, international, business, and leisure travel sectors, pointing to a potentially record-breaking year for U.S. aviation. As the industry continues to recover, these trends highlight growing confidence in air travel, a positive outlook for airlines, and a return to traditional seasonal travel patterns.