How American, Southwest, United, Delta, Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier, Hawaiian, Alaska, and SkyWest Are Powering the Rise of US Tourism in 2025: New Report You Need to Know

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As the US tourism sector experiences a strong rebound in 2025, ten major airlines—American, Southwest, United, Delta, Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier, Hawaiian, Alaska, and SkyWest—are playing a central role in powering this rise by enhancing affordability, safety, and reliability. According to WalletHub’s 2025 Airline Industry Performance Report, which analyzes 2024 data from the US Department of Transportation, these carriers are helping shape new travel trends by improving operational efficiency, offering competitive pricing, and delivering better passenger experiences. Despite economic uncertainties and rising airfare costs, their efforts are directly contributing to increased domestic travel, making air journeys more accessible and appealing to American tourists.

The report evaluated eleven carriers across multiple factors—flight cancellations, delays, mishandled baggage, safety records, comfort features, pricing, and animal handling. The results show a mixed but promising picture of how the airline industry is contributing to US travel growth in 2025. Here’s how each airline performed and what it means for travelers this year:

American Airlines

American Airlines rounds out the top ten, struggling with reliability issues despite offering a high level of comfort. It received the lowest score for mishandled baggage among the major airlines and ranked second-worst in terms of flight delays. These operational setbacks have placed it at a disadvantage for tourists seeking punctual and hassle-free travel.

However, American Airlines stands out in comfort-related categories. It scored well in legroom, in-flight entertainment, and complimentary refreshments, offering a more pleasant experience once in the air. For many leisure travelers, especially on long-haul domestic routes, this level of onboard comfort still makes American Airlines an attractive option despite its logistical shortcomings.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines, a budget carrier, impressed in safety rankings—earning the title of second-safest airline in the country. The safety rating was based on accident data between 2019 and 2024, incidents per number of flights, and the average fleet age. Frontier’s fleet, with an average aircraft age of just 4.6 years, was among the youngest and safest.

Additionally, Frontier earned strong marks for affordability and baggage handling. While its no-frills service model may limit in-flight comfort, its low ticket prices and safety record make it a solid choice for budget-conscious tourists looking to explore the US without breaking the bank. Its performance in these key areas helps attract a growing segment of travelers prioritizing cost-efficiency and reliability.

United Airlines

United Airlines scored poorly for mishandled baggage and flight cancellations, making it a less reliable option for travelers concerned with timely arrivals and luggage security. These issues can be a major deterrent for tourists booking vacations, especially those with tight itineraries.

On the positive side, United tied with SkyWest and Envoy Air for best pet-friendly policies, a critical feature for travelers flying with animals. United also provides decent in-flight comfort and extensive route options, which contribute to its role in connecting both major cities and secondary destinations—boosting regional tourism in the process.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines continues to offer a uniquely comfortable experience, tying with JetBlue as the most comfortable airline in the ranking. Amenities such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary refreshments, and extra legroom set it apart, particularly for long-haul flights to and from the island state.

This focus on comfort plays a crucial role in promoting tourism to Hawaii and across the Pacific. By making the journey as pleasant as the destination, Hawaiian Airlines supports travel demand not only from the US mainland but also among inter-island tourists and those heading to the US from Asia-Pacific gateways.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines earned high marks in both comfort and safety, receiving top scores for legroom, entertainment, complimentary refreshments, fleet age, and safety benchmarks. Its modern fleet and operational consistency make it a traveler favorite, especially in the western US and Pacific Northwest.

Alaska’s strong regional presence supports domestic tourism in more remote and scenic parts of the country, from Alaskan wilderness adventures to West Coast getaways. Its blend of safety, comfort, and expanding routes makes it a key player in boosting local economies through tourism.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines scored the highest in flight cancellations, signaling the best track record for keeping scheduled flights on time. It also performed well in legroom, entertainment, and complimentary refreshments—offering one of the best values in the mid-tier pricing segment.

However, Southwest’s lower performance in price, delays, and baggage handling somewhat undermines its reliability. Still, its strong comfort and cancellation stats make it a preferred airline for tourists planning trips in advance, where schedule dependability is essential.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue tied with Hawaiian Airlines for the top spot in comfort, thanks to excellent in-flight features like free Wi-Fi, entertainment, refreshments, and generous legroom. The airline consistently ranks high in customer satisfaction, making it a go-to for travelers who prioritize in-air experience.

In addition, JetBlue scored strongly in reliability, performing well in categories like canceled flights and baggage handling. While it doesn’t transport pets, its all-around performance has helped the airline support increased domestic leisure travel across the East Coast and beyond.

Delta Air Lines

Delta was ranked the most reliable US airline in 2025, thanks to low rates of flight cancellations, delays, mishandled baggage, and denied boardings. These strengths directly support tourism by enabling travelers to stick to schedules and enjoy seamless travel experiences.

Comfort is another area where Delta excels, with top scores for legroom, in-flight entertainment, and refreshments. However, its relatively older fleet—averaging nearly 15 years—lowered its safety score slightly. Nonetheless, Delta remains a cornerstone in US tourism infrastructure through its extensive national and international network.

SkyWest Airlines

SkyWest, a regional airline serving larger carriers like Delta, United, American, and Alaska, emerged as one of the most pet-friendly airlines—tying with United in this category. This makes it a preferred option for travelers flying with animals, especially in smaller markets.

Although it lacks in-flight entertainment, SkyWest earned top marks for legroom and complimentary refreshments. Its dependable regional service plays a vital role in connecting smaller cities to the national tourism grid, often providing essential air access to otherwise underserved areas.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines was crowned the best overall US airline of 2025, leading in both affordability and safety. It scored the highest in safety metrics and ranked second-best for mishandled baggage and flight delays, showcasing surprising reliability for a low-cost carrier.

Though it received low scores for comfort-related amenities—such as legroom, entertainment, and complimentary refreshments—Spirit’s unbeatable pricing and operational efficiency have made it a top choice for budget travelers. By making air travel accessible to more Americans, Spirit is directly contributing to the rise of domestic tourism in 2025.

In 2025, American, Frontier, United, Hawaiian, Alaska, Southwest, JetBlue, Delta, SkyWest, and Spirit are driving a surge in US tourism by offering safer, more affordable, and reliable travel options, according to WalletHub’s latest performance report.

As US travelers continue to reevaluate their travel priorities amid inflation and safety concerns, airlines that deliver on affordability, comfort, and reliability are helping reshape the tourism landscape. From major players like American and Delta to budget carriers like Spirit and Frontier, each airline brings unique strengths to the skies—powering the resurgence of domestic travel across the country.

Whether through improved comfort, enhanced safety standards, or better reliability, these ten airlines are not just competing—they’re collectively helping to lift US tourism to new heights in 2025.