The result of US airlines expanding into international markets includes an array of new nonstop international routes.
For every US airport that has added nonstop flights to foreign destinations in the past five years, about an equal number have lost such flights, reported USA Today.
Since last year, the six big traditional U.S. airlines — all continuing to post huge losses — have been aggressively expanding service across borders and overseas, where they face less competition, the newspaper said.
“International service — that’s where the money is,” said Howard Mann of Airports Council International-North America.
Overall, airports in the 48 contiguous states average 1,663 nonstop daily departures to foreign destinations, up 4.2% from five years ago, according to news reports.
In general, airports that gained the most nonstop international departures are major-airline hubs — Continental at Houston, US Airways at Philadelphia and Charlotte, Delta at Atlanta, United at Washington Dulles, and Northwest at Detroit, according to the newspaper.
The report said US government officials expect domestic airports to see more opportunity in the coming year as the government develops agreements with other countries lowering restrictions on access.
Report by David Wilkening
