Transatlantic Market Growth: Opportunities and Challenges for Airlines

The transatlantic air travel market has expanded significantly over the past decade, growing approximately 55% since 2010 (OAG). Despite its attractiveness due to strong passenger demand, the market presents considerable challenges for new entrants, including high operating costs, slot scarcity at major airports, pronounced seasonality, and the dominance of established airline alliances.

In Summer 2025, 49 airlines operated transatlantic routes, with United Airlines and Delta Air Lines representing the largest share of capacity. The market ranks as the fifth-largest international air market globally, with five countries accounting for more than three-quarters of total capacity. U.S.-based carriers held 34%, Canadian carriers 16%, while the UK and Germany each contributed 14%, and France 11%.

Alliance membership—through Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam—remains a key strategic tool, enabling carriers to coordinate schedules, pricing, and capacity while leveraging loyalty programs to retain high-value frequent flyers. Access to prime take-off and landing slots at hubs such as Heathrow, JFK, and Paris CDG is essential for profitable operations. Low-cost, long-haul models like WOW Air, Norwegian Long Haul, and Norse Atlantic face thin margins despite offering competitive pricing.

How AviaPro Can Support Airlines in the Transatlantic Market

Navigating the complexities of the transatlantic market requires robust strategy and operational foresight. AviaPro helps airlines and aviation stakeholders optimize their transatlantic operations through:

• Route and network strategy: Evaluate market demand, slot availability, and competitor positioning to optimize route deployment.
• Alliance and partnership advisory: Assess potential benefits from codeshare agreements and alliance coordination to maximize network efficiency.
• Financial and scenario modeling: Forecast revenue, cost, and margin implications for new routes, low-cost long-haul strategies, and seasonal operations.
• Operational readiness: Plan for crew logistics, aircraft utilization, and maintenance scheduling to ensure reliability in a high-demand, high-cost market.

By combining data-driven insights with strategic guidance, AviaPro empowers airlines to expand their transatlantic presence efficiently, mitigate operational risks, and capture value in this competitive and lucrative market.

 

Source

OAG, Summer 2025 Airline Capacity Data