Friday, August 2, 2024
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In August, over 1,100 airports around the world have scheduled regional jet (RJ) flights. The data, based on Cirium schedules, reveal that nearly half of these flights operate from the top 10 busiest airports, all of which are located in the USA. Despite a decline in RJ services, the rise of larger and more economical aircraft has helped maintain the number of seats per departure, especially in the US, which accounts for 67% of all RJ flights this month. This is largely due to the country’s pilot scope clause agreement.
Top 10 Regional Jet Airports: August 2024
The dominance of US airports in the RJ sector is evident as they occupy all top 10 positions. These airports collectively handle almost 50% of the world’s RJ services. The first non-US airport, Toronto Pearson, ranks 17th globally. Leading the pack is Chicago O’Hare, which manages 27,229 RJ roundtrips in August, averaging 878 daily flights. Despite this high volume, Chicago O’Hare has seen a significant drop in RJ flights since August 2019, when it had over 42,500 roundtrips.
Detailed Ranking and Operations
The following table provides a detailed look at the top 10 RJ airports in August 2024:
| Airport | RJ roundtrips (average daily) | % flights on RJs | #1 airline | # RJ destinations (top) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago O’Hare | 27,229 (878) | 40% | American Eagle | 135 (Milwaukee) |
| Dallas/Fort Worth | 20,668 (667) | 32% | American Eagle | 123 (Midland/Odessa) |
| Charlotte | 19,875 (641) | 41% | American Eagle | 105 (Columbia, SC) |
| New York LaGuardia | 16,144 (521) | 53% | Delta Connection | 66 (Toronto Pearson) |
| Washington Reagan | 13,054 (421) | 52% | American Eagle | 83 (Newark) |
| Houston Intercontinental | 12,583 (406) | 34% | United Express | 90 (Dallas/Fort Worth) |
| Denver | 12,245 (395) | 21% | United Express | 98 (Colorado Springs) |
| Seattle | 10,714 (346) | 26% | Horizon Air | 51 (Boise) |
| Philadelphia | 9,560 (308) | 35% | American Eagle | 65 (Toronto Pearson) |
| Detroit | 9,083 (293) | 34% | Delta Connection | 58 (Chicago O’Hare) |
*Roundtrips/31 days
**All operators combined
Decline in RJ Flights
Chicago O’Hare, which leads in RJ operations, has experienced a reduction of over a third in its RJ roundtrips compared to August 2019. This trend reflects a broader decline in RJ services, which has been offset to some extent by the introduction of larger and more efficient aircraft, increasing the average number of seats per departure.
First Non-North American Airport
St. Petersburg, Russia, ranks 18th globally and is the first non-North American airport on the list. Before the Ukraine war, St. Petersburg was not even in the top 100 airports for RJ services. The city has risen in rank primarily due to an average of 137 daily roundtrips to and from Moscow’s Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Vnukovo airports, all operated by the Sukhoi Superjet SSJ100. Flights from St. Petersburg to Moscow are frequent, with departures roughly every half hour from early morning until after midnight, and at certain times, there are even flights every 15 minutes.
Future Outlook
The prominence of US airports in the regional jet sector highlights their critical role in domestic air travel. Despite a decline in the number of RJ flights, the sector remains vital, supported by larger aircraft that maintain seat capacity. The unique situation in St. Petersburg, with its frequent RJ flights to Moscow, underscores the diversity of regional jet operations globally. The ongoing adjustments in the aviation industry, such as the introduction of more economical aircraft, continue to shape the landscape of regional air travel.
