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 March 8th, 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 U.S. airport system remained in recovery mode in February, with passenger throughput following a similar pattern to the past two years. As shown in Figure 1, daily passenger volumes across all U.S. airports closely aligned with 2024 levels. The forecast projects continued growth, with daily passenger numbers expected to exceed 2.6 million by May, mirroring last year’s trends.
Figure 1: US Overall Air Traffic Trend
Domestic Airport Traffic Indicator
Figure 2 illustrates domestic travel trends at key airports, including Charlotte (CLT), Denver (DEN), and Phoenix (PHX), which followed a similar upward trajectory in February. While a brief dip occurred at the end of the month, a rebound quickly restored the 2025 curve to its growth path. The forecast indicates continued expansion through March, driven by rising business and leisure travel within the U.S. This spring could see a higher peak, though it may be short-lived due to recent declines in consumer confidence.
Figure 2: US Domestic Air Traffic Indicator
International Airport Traffic Indicator
Figure 3 highlights a significant increase in passenger numbers at New York’s JFK Airport, a key hub for international travel, followed by a brief decline in February. The 2025 trend line indicates a stronger start compared to previous years, with passenger volumes already surpassing early 2024 levels, signaling heightened demand for international travel. The outlook for the coming months remains optimistic, with projections suggesting continued growth through the spring season.
Figure 3: US International Air Traffic Indicator
Leisure Air Traffic Indicator
Figure 4 presents an overview of the U.S. leisure air travel market. The early January dip aligned with typical seasonal declines following the holiday peak, while February saw a notable rebound. The forecast anticipates traffic volumes remaining on par with last year’s levels in the coming months.
Figure 4: US Leisure Air Traffic Indicator
Business Air Traffic Indicator
Figure 5 highlights the upward trend in business travel, with February 2025 passenger volumes consistently surpassing 2024 levels on most days. Projections indicate continued growth in the coming months, fueled by the resurgence of in-person meetings and conferences during the spring and summer seasons.
Figure 5: US Business Air Traffic Indicator
The U.S. airport system remains in recovery mode, with passenger throughput in February 2025 closely tracking 2024 levels and expected to surpass 2.6 million daily passengers by May. Domestic and international travel continue to grow, with key hubs like JFK showing stronger early-year demand and business travel exceeding last year’s levels. While leisure travel follows seasonal patterns, overall air traffic is projected to rise through spring, though consumer confidence may impact peak volumes.