The Carriers Operating The Most Flights Between Asia & The US

The air travel market between Asia and the US is undoubtedly popular. Flights between the two regions have always had higher capacity numbers than other international routes due to Asia’s sheer size and number of people. Although some may believe that Asia-based airlines operate the most amount of flights or longest flights, the title actually goes to a US carrier. Asian airlines, however, still do have a significant impact on the market.

Next month, some of the longest routes between Asia and the US will exceed 7,000 miles. United Airlines has the largest Asia network out of any other US-based airline. The Chicago-based carrier even operates exclusively in the Asia-Pacific region, connecting islands between the Philippines and Hawaii. Apart from that, United also has an extensive network to Japan, Korea, and China from its US West Coast hubs.

According to aviation analytics and data provider Cirium, the top five airlines with the most flights between Asia and the US include United, Japan Airlines (JAL), All Nippon Airways (ANA), Korean Air, and Delta Air Lines. While two US-based airlines make up the top five, three Asia-based carriers are sandwiched in between, accounting for the bulk of capacity between the two regions.

1

United Airlines

2,073 flights

United has over 2,000 flights scheduled between Asia and the US next month. The airline’s longest flight crosses 7,323 miles between its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi, India. The carrier has a total of 62 flights between the two destinations, offering a total of 15,934 seats on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Although United also competes with Air India on the route, EWR-DEL is one of many US-Asia routes it operates.

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The Star Alliance carrier’s second-longest route between the US and Asia is from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Narita Airport (NRT) in Tokyo, Japan. The route, which is also operated by the 787-9, and has 31 frequencies scheduled in each direction.

Some of United’s other notable US-Asia routes include:

• EWR to Haneda Airport (HND)
• EWR to Narita Airport (NRT)
• Fukuoka Airport (FUK) to Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM)

2

Japan Airlines

1,048 flights

JAL has just over 1,000 flights scheduled between the US and Asia. Its operation next month will result in more than 230,600 seats being offered. The airline has service to eight destinations within the Continental US:

• Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• San Diego International Airport (SAN)
• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

Photo: EQRoy | Shutterstock

The carrier’s long-haul service from its hub at HND to JFK is just over 6,770 miles. Next month, flights between the two destinations will operate twice daily, totaling 124 flights. JAL will deploy both the Airbus A350-1000 and the 777-300ER on the route. Another notable route is from NRT to BOS, crossing 6,700 miles on the 787-9. The route’s frequencies will be daily, representing a total of 62 flights and 12,090 seats throughout July.

3

All Nippon Airways

930 flights

ANA will operate just over 900 flights between Asia and the US next month. The carrier competes directly with JAL between HND and JFK, operating 124 flights. However, as it only deploys one aircraft type between the two destinations – the 777-300ER – JAL has, the carrier beats out in terms of capacity. Across 62 flights in each direction, ANA has 26,288 seats on the route next month, while JAL has 29,731 seats scheduled.

HND-JFK is not ANA’s longest route to the US, however. The carrier operates flights to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), which is 6,783 miles. Instead of the 777-300ER, the airline deploys the 787-9, with 62 flights scheduled on the route – 31 each way – offering 13,330 seats.

Photo: Daisuke Shimizu | Shutterstock

Other signature ANA routes include:

• HND to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)
• HND to ORD
• NRT to ORD

4

Korean Air

876 flights

Korean Air will operate just over 870 flights between Asia and the US next month. Its longest route will be from its hub at Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), which crosses 7,153 miles. The airline will operate daily flights between the two airports on the 747-8 Intercontinental, offering more than 11,408 seats in each direction throughout July.

Photo: kamilpetran | Shutterstock

While the seat count to and from ATL is significant, the airline will have the most capacity to JFK from ICN. The particular route will see twice-daily frequencies on the A380 and 747-8. With both jumbo jets deployed two times per day, Korean Air will offer a whopping 46,958 seats – 23,479 each way.

Other notable routes the airline has scheduled next month include:

• ICN to IAD
• ICN to DFW
• ICN to BOS
• ICN to ORD

5

Delta Air Lines

868 flights

Atlanta-based Delta understandably has service to Asia from its ATL home base. While Korean Air utilizes its 747-8s to and from ICN, Delta deploys its A350-900 twice daily, meaning it wins the route in terms of capacity. The SkyTeam Alliance airline has 18,972 seats scheduled in each direction on the route, which is also its longest flight between the US and Asia at 7,153 miles.

Photo: Oleh Yatskiv | Shutterstock

Delta’s ATL-ICN service is also its only Asia route offered twice daily. All of its other routes to the region have daily frequencies, making up its nearly 870 flights scheduled next month:

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
• ATL to HND
• DTW to ICN
• DTW to HND
• Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP) to ICN
• MSP to HND
• SEA to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
• SEA to PVG
• SEA to ICN
• SEA to HND
• LAX to HND
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) to HND

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