In the fiercely competitive transcontinental U.S. airline market, Delta Air Lines emerged as the top revenue generator on key coast-to-coast routes in 2024, outperforming rivals despite American Airlines commanding the highest average fares.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium reveals that the busiest and most lucrative routes remain those connecting New York and Los Angeles, with a strong presence from all three major U.S. carriers — American, Delta, and United — alongside JetBlue, according to Simply Flying.

American Airlines’ route from New York JFK to Los Angeles had the highest average fare in 2024 at $520, a figure driven by its premium cabin offerings. However, American ranked fourth in total revenue due to offering fewer seats compared to its competitors. Delta Air Lines, despite lower average fares on the same route ($414), secured the top spot in total revenue by deploying higher capacity and maintaining competitive pricing.

United Airlines also posted strong figures, with its Newark to Los Angeles route serving over 1 million passengers at an average fare of $359, while JetBlue offered the most affordable fares, averaging $348 on its JFK-LAX route.

American Airlines recently announced plans to introduce premium economy cabins on its JFK-LAX service starting October 5, aiming to boost its premium seat share and potentially its average fare. Still, analysts say that without expanding overall seat capacity, the airline may continue to trail in revenue rankings.

As demand for transcontinental travel holds steady, airlines are focusing on striking the right balance between pricing, premium offerings, and seat volume to lead in both passenger numbers and profitability.