The transatlantic air market — linking North America and Europe — remains one of global aviation’s most competitive and lucrative battlegrounds in 2025. Yet, despite the presence of nearly 50 airlines vying for passengers, dominance continues to rest with the major global alliances and their largest member carriers.
According to data from OAG, transatlantic capacity has surged 55% since 2010, underscoring the enduring demand from both business and leisure travelers. The corridor, now ranked as the fifth-largest international air market worldwide, connects dozens of U.S. and European cities with hundreds of daily flights.
The Market’s Structure: Five Nations Command the Skies
The United States remains the single largest player in transatlantic aviation, with American carriers accounting for 34% of total seat capacity. That share has slipped from 40% in 2010, but U.S. airlines still lead by a wide margin.
Canada follows with 16% of capacity, while the United Kingdom and Germany each contribute 14%. French airlines round out the top five with 11%. Together, these five countries represent nearly 90% of all passenger traffic crossing the Atlantic.
Despite this concentration, no single airline holds a dominant position. United Airlines and Delta Air Lines each command roughly 12% of the market, the largest individual shares among carriers.
Frequency and Reach: The Power Players
British Airways leads the pack in frequency, operating 23 daily return flights on the 10 busiest transatlantic routes. United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic each maintain 14 daily return flights, helping fuel the market’s overall capacity.
These airlines benefit from their membership in the powerful global alliances — Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and Oneworld — which allow them to coordinate schedules, share passengers, and expand loyalty programs.
Why Alliances Win
The structure of airline alliances gives large carriers a decisive edge. Members within these partnerships can jointly operate flights, synchronize timetables, and offer seamless ticketing and connections. This results in a smoother experience for travelers and stronger financial stability for participating airlines.
Key advantages include coordinated flight schedules, shared pricing strategies, and unified frequent-flyer programs. At major hubs like London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and New York’s JFK, alliance members often share terminals and lounges, making transfers easier.
Loyalty programs remain a central pillar of these alliances’ success. By pooling frequent-flyer miles and rewards, airlines keep high-value business travelers within their network — a benefit low-cost competitors find nearly impossible to replicate.
New Entrants Face Steep Climb
While the market’s appeal is clear, breaking into it has proven challenging. The collapse of Norwegian and WOW Air illustrated the perilous economics of low-cost, long-haul flying. Norwegian ended all long-haul operations in January 2021, citing high fuel costs and limited premium revenue.
Smaller players like Norse Atlantic Airways and JetBlue now fill some of that space, but their expansion remains cautious. Both focus on select city pairs or niche passenger segments rather than trying to compete head-to-head with alliance giants.
The hurdles for newcomers are significant — from soaring fuel prices and aircraft leasing costs to high airport fees at congested hubs like JFK, Heathrow, and CDG. Limited takeoff and landing slots, coupled with sharp seasonal swings in demand, further constrain profitability.
The World’s Busiest Long-Haul Route
No corridor exemplifies transatlantic dominance more clearly than the link between New York’s JFK Airport and London Heathrow (LHR), which remains the busiest long-haul route globally. In summer 2025, it features 44 daily flights each way.
Here’s the breakdown:
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British Airways: 8 return flights daily
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Virgin Atlantic: 6
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American Airlines: 4
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Delta Air Lines and JetBlue: 2 each
Heathrow appears in seven of the ten busiest transatlantic routes, while New York City — including JFK and Newark — features in four.
Other major gateways, such as Paris Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt, continue to anchor transatlantic connectivity. On the Paris–New York route, JetBlue and Norse Atlantic each operate a single daily return flight, competing against multiple frequencies from Air France, Delta, and American Airlines.
Canada’s Role
Canadian airlines also maintain a strong transatlantic presence. Air Canada operates three to four daily return flights between Toronto and London, and two between Paris and Montreal. Leisure carrier Air Transat adds one or two daily flights on similar routes, appealing primarily to price-sensitive travelers.
Outlook: Alliances Still Rule
Analysts expect major alliances to retain their dominance through 2025 and beyond. Their scale, global networks, and customer loyalty give them a durable advantage in managing rising costs and adapting to evolving travel trends.
Smaller carriers may find limited opportunities by targeting underserved routes or offering unique customer experiences, but their growth will likely remain slow.
Ultimately, as the transatlantic market continues to expand, the biggest winners are expected to remain those airlines already entrenched within the global alliance system — the networks that control not just the skies, but the loyalty of millions of travelers worldwide.
