The ultra-long-haul market across North and South America remains active, with a steady number of routes connecting distant destinations. Despite recent growth, total routes have slightly declined from 293 in summer 2019 to 263 in summer 2024, reflecting operational challenges and market saturation. North American legacy carriers, led by United Airlines, dominate this segment, operating nearly 6,700 long-haul flights by summer 2026, including new routes to Incheon and Tel Aviv from Newark. San Francisco continues to serve as a major hub for these flights.
Cathay Pacific maintains the second-largest network, with multiple daily flights to Hong Kong from New York JFK and Los Angeles. Qatar Airways has benefitted significantly, expanding its schedules by 42% since 2019 and serving 13 destinations with over 1,000 additional flights. Middle Eastern connectivity is crucial, with hubs in New York and Dallas supporting a dense network of services.
Latin American Market Dynamics
LATAM Airlines leads in South America, expanding services from Santiago and São Paulo to destinations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brussels, and Amsterdam. European airlines like Iberia, Turkish Airlines, and Aeromexico are also adding routes, but high costs limit the size of new route development. Strategic hub connectivity and aircraft availability are key factors influencing growth. Regional airlines tend to increase frequency on existing routes rather than open new ones, emphasizing the region's strong global connectivity potential.
Overall, the regional market shows resilience with airlines focusing on increased frequencies on established routes, relying on infrastructure, aircraft fleets, and high-yield traffic to sustain growth. Future expansion will likely depend on demand for premium travel, cargo, and the effectiveness of hub-and-spoke networks.
