American vs. Delta vs. United: Which Airline Leads Globally?

Overview of International Flight Operations by US Airlines

Between September and December, the so-called "US big three" carriers—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines—are expected to operate a total of 917 daily international departures. This number represents a significant portion of the country’s international air travel, with these three airlines collectively managing 41% of all such services. The data used for this analysis comes from the latest Cirium Diio information.

Among the three carriers, United Airlines has the highest number of daily international departures, at 351. This is largely due to its strong long-haul presence, although it does not plan to introduce any new European routes next year. American Airlines follows closely behind with 346 daily departures, thanks to its extensive operations in regions such as Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. Delta Air Lines, while still a major player, ranks third with 220 daily international departures.

Market Dominance Across Different Regions

The following table outlines the market shares (based on flights between September and December) for each of the three US carriers across different geographies. It's important to note that these percentages reflect only nonstop flights operated by American, Delta, or United. They do not account for services provided by foreign carriers, even if those carriers are part of joint ventures or alliances, which could significantly alter the landscape in certain areas.

All three carriers have flights to all ten examined continents, regions, and specific countries, with one exception: American Airlines does not currently operate flights to Africa. However, in 2019, the oneworld member had plans to launch a Boeing 757 service from Philadelphia to Casablanca. These plans were ultimately canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the airline has not publicly expressed interest in resuming service to Morocco since then.

United Airlines' Global Reach

United Airlines holds the top position in six out of the 10 markets analyzed. Compared to American and Delta, it is the leading carrier to Asia (excluding the Middle East), Australasia, Canada, Central America, Europe, and the Middle East. The gap between United and the second-largest US carrier is most pronounced in Australasia, where United commands a 62% share, compared to just 20% for American.

One of the key developments in this region is the introduction of a new route from San Francisco to Adelaide, operated by a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This service will begin on December 11 and run three times a week. It will mark United’s fourth Australian city and the first time that Adelaide has had nonstop flights from the United States.

According to Cirium data, United is the largest airline (both US and foreign) in half of these six markets. The exceptions include Canada, where it is second to Air Canada; Central America, where it is second to Copa; and the Middle East, where it is fifth, behind Qatar Airways, Emirates, El Al, and Etihad. Despite this, United maintains partnerships with some of these carriers.

Delta Airlines' Stronghold in Africa

Delta Airlines is the only one of the three major US carriers that holds a dominant position in Africa. This is partly because American Airlines does not fly there. Delta operates eight routes to Africa, two of which are either new or returning this year. These include Atlanta to Accra (resuming on December 1), Cape Town, Johannesburg, Lagos, and Marrakech (beginning on October 25), along with New York JFK to Accra, Dakar, and Lagos.

Delta ranks second in several other regions, including Asia (excluding the Middle East), Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Its performance in these markets is supported by the return of Tel Aviv flights on September 1. Some of these routes rely heavily on SkyTeam’s presence, particularly Delta’s numerous flights to Amsterdam, Paris CDG, and Seoul Incheon hubs.