Airlines for America – Industry Review: Allocating Capital to Benefit Customers, Employees and Investors

This report reviews the airline industry with a focus on how capital is allocated to benefit customers, employees, and investors.

It highlights the scale and scope of U.S. airlines' operations, including passenger and cargo transport statistics, and challenges nostalgic views of the 'golden age' of air travel by emphasizing the evolution of air travel from a luxury service to a more accessible mode of transportation. The document also includes perspectives on airline pricing, deregulation, and innovation, with key data points such as daily cargo moved (~61,000 tons), passengers carried (~2.7 million), number of employees (>1 million), and daily flights (~27,000).