Comparing United, American, and Delta: Which Airline Dominates International Flights?
Between September and December, the three major U.S. carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—are collectively scheduled to operate 917 daily international departures, which includes both outbound and inbound flights. They account for 41% of all international flights originating from the U.S., based on recent Cirium Diio data.
United Airlines Leads in International Departures
- United Airlines: 351 daily departures, with a strong presence in long-haul operations, although no new European routes are planned for next year.
- American Airlines: Close behind with 346 departures, largely serving Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America.
- Delta Air Lines: Trails with 220 departures.
International Market Dominance
The following table outlines each airline’s market share in various international regions, based on flights from September to December. Note: these percentages reflect only nonstop flights operated by American, Delta, or United, excluding those by partner or alliance members.
| US To… | American | Delta | United |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | 0% | 54% | 46% |
| Asia (excl. Middle East) | 14% | 26% | 60% |
| Australasia (excl. US territories) | 20% | 18% | 62% |
| Canada | 27% | 30% | 43% |
| Caribbean (excl. US territories) | 58% | 22% | 20% |
| Central America | 38% | 13% | 49% |
| Europe | 25% | 34% | 41% |
| Mexico | 45% | 16% | 39% |
| Middle East | 17% | 22% | 61% |
| South America | 53% | 20% | 27% |
United Airlines Dominates Six Markets
United Airlines holds the top position to Asia (excluding the Middle East), Australasia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. The largest market gap is seen in Australasia, where United claims 62% compared to American’s 20%. Notably, United will launch a three-weekly Boeing 787-9 flight from San Francisco to Adelaide beginning on December 11, marking Adelaide’s first non-stop service to the U.S.
According to Cirium, United is the largest carrier (among both U.S. and foreign airlines) in half of these regions, aside from being second to Air Canada in Canada, and to Copa in Central America. In the Middle East, United ranks fifth, trailing Qatar Airways, Emirates, El Al, and Etihad.
Delta’s Strength in Africa
Delta stands out in Africa, which is partly due to American Airlines not serving this region. Delta offers eight routes to Africa, including new or reinstated routes such as Atlanta to Accra and other African destinations like Cape Town and Lagos. Delta’s prominence in several other regions, including Asia (excluding the Middle East) and Europe, is bolstered by its SkyTeam partners and robust operations to hubs in Amsterdam, Paris CDG, and Seoul Incheon.
