With dwindling legroom it can feel as though every domestic US flight is full to bursting point, yet the reality is that 1 in 6 airline seats go unfilled, according to the latest data from an International Air Transport Association report.
Despite having nearly 20% empty seats on an average flight during 2013, the IATA report showed US domestic flights were still the world’s most crowded with 83.8% load factor during the year.
Load factors in the US fell during the second and third quarters before picking up towards the end of the year.
China had the next busiest flights with just over 80% full, followed by Australia and Brazil, both at 76%.
Globally, IATA said that air passenger numbers rose 5.2% in 2013 with the largest increases seen in the Middle East and Asia.
In December IATA predicted that the global airline industry could rake in record profits of $19.7 billion in 2014, due to lower jet fuel prices and a surge in ancillary revenue such as baggage fees.
