No surprise to anyone, 2023 was a massive year for American aviation. As the industry made strides in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines placed more aircraft orders, added routes, brought routes back to full capacity, and airports broke passenger traffic numbers. This article will look at just a few of the biggest stories from the ‘Big Three’ airlines: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines.

United Airlines 

Depending on how you look at it, United had the best year of the three. In 2023, the airline launched several routes not served by other American carriers, like Christchurch, Tenerife, Ponta Delgada, Brisbane, and more.

In October, United expanded its already massive order book, adding Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The Chicago-based airline exercised options for 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, adding to the huge order it placed in December 2022. The order announcement, which included a further 60 Airbus A321neos, came mere days before United received its first of the type and the first delivery of an Airbus aircraft in more than two decades.

American Airlines 

American Airlines also had a big year, solidifying its dominance in Latin America and the Caribbean, announcing an expansion in Europe in 2024, and more. On January 30, American opened a brand-new hotel for its crew in training, both pilots and flight attendants. Encompassing 550,000 square feet, the hotel has more than 600 rooms and a 73,000-square-foot fitness center. The new hotel is called Skyview 6 and is a part of the massive AA headquarters campus.

American’s pilots agreed to a new contract this year, amounting to $9.6 billion over the next four years, and including an immediate 21% increase in wages. A deal had been agreed to in principle earlier in the year, but after United Airlines made a better offer to its pilots, AA’s pilots returned to the negotiating table. The Fort Worth-based airline also faced some bad news this year, with a US District Court judge ordering the end of the Northeast Alliance with JetBlue. JetBlue appealed the ruling to keep the door open for similar future alliances.

Delta Air Lines 

Delta started 2023 with a bang, announcing that by February 1, 80% of its aircraft would offer free WiFi for SkyMiles members. The airline had previously committed to its customers that it would provide free WiFi on all aircraft, including regional jets, and in January, the plans were solidified. Late in the year, Delta confirmed it was working with Hughes Network Systems to get new equipment installed on regional jets and Boeing 717s.

Delta’s global reach expanded considerably, with its joint-venture agreement with LATAM Airlines Group in South America and a new codeshare with EL AL in Israel. A battle was started over Tokyo Haneda slots left open after Delta did not launch its flights from Portland International Airport to Haneda and asked to swap the slot to another airport. United accused Delta of price-gouging after it listed fights for the PDX-HND route for more than $14,000 round trip in economy.