Regional Airlines Drive US Flight Growth | Aviation Week

US regional airlines accounted for all growth in scheduled passenger departures during 2025, according to the Regional Airline Association’s 2026 annual report. Departures averaged 8,661 per day last year, up 8.3% from 7,998 in 2024, while all other US airlines saw a 0.5% decline to 16,675 daily departures. Total US departures rose 2.4%, avoiding a broader contraction thanks to the regional rebound. Regional carriers conducted 3.16 million departures in 2025 versus 2.92 million a year earlier and carried 142.9 million passengers, up 6.8%. The network still lags pre-2020 levels, with departures 17.1% lower than 2019.