US Airlines Continue to Cruise in 2023

This report provides an overview of the current state of US airlines and their performance in 2023. The report highlights that US airlines are experiencing sustained growth in traveler demand, both domestically and internationally. This growth is being driven by the return of business travel and the opening of international markets, along with the related increase in international airline routes. Despite tighter budgets, travel remains a significant source of discretionary spending, with US airlines continuing to see gains. The report also notes that user engagement on airline mobile apps follows cyclical patterns, with peak travel periods seeing a rise in both average session count and time spent. International travel is a key growth driver, with US respondents expecting international trips to comprise 33% of travel spend in 2023, up from 21% the prior year. US airlines are seeing gains from a surge of demand internationally, with downloads and MAUs rising outside the US. Delta Airlines had the largest YoY growth in international downloads and MAUs amongst the cohort, at 30% and 64%, respectively. Overall, the report suggests that US airlines are well-positioned for continued growth in 2023, with strong demand from both domestic and international travelers. The number of passengers passing through TSA checkpoints rose 10.4% YoY in 2Q23, which is in line with both download and MAU growth for the cohort. However, the report also notes that a prospective pilot strike could further weigh on Southwest's usage and engagement metrics.