Global airline capacity is set to reach a peak of 559.4 million seats in July 2025, marking a robust 3% increase compared to July 2024. This surge is driven by significant frequency additions from major carriers worldwide, with United Airlines leading the charge among U.S. airlines.
According to data from OAG, United Airlines is demonstrating exceptional growth, adding over 13,200 flights this month, representing a substantial 9.3% increase from last July. Other prominent U.S. carriers are also experiencing strong frequency growth, with American Airlines increasing its flights by 4.6% and Delta Air Lines by 6.2% year-on-year.
Beyond the U.S. market, other international airlines are contributing to the global expansion. The LATAM Airlines Group has seen a 6.7% increase in frequency, while Turkish Airlines has boosted its operations by an impressive 8.8% this month.
While the overall trend is upward, some airlines are adjusting their schedules with reduced frequencies. Southwest Airlines is reporting a 1.5% decrease compared to last July, and Deutsche Lufthansa’s frequency is down by 5.2% year-on-year.
Regionally, Central Asia is experiencing the fastest growth, with capacity up 15% year-on-year, despite being one of the smallest global regions with 3.2 million seats in July 2025. Southern Africa, the smallest region, is also showing double-digit growth, with capacity up by 10.4%. The largest volume increases in seats are observed in the largest regions, with North East Asia adding 4.0 million seats and Western Europe adding 3.3 million seats in July 2025 compared to the previous year.
This continued expansion underscores the strong demand within the global aviation sector as it enters its peak summer travel season.
