The domestic aviation market in the US is one of the most recovered in the world, but recently, it has been reported that several US airlines have increased scheduled flight times by small increments to provide that extra buffer and comfort.

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The U.S. domestic flight network includes a wide range of routes that crisscross the country and provides a variety of options to suit different travel demands. Numerous airlines operating on both major and minor routes ensure accessibility and connectivity across the nation, offering everything from short-haul regional flights to transcontinental trips. These routes act as crucial pathways, promoting interstate and interregional trade, tourism, and cultural exchange. According to OAG, We’ve analyzed the flying time for the Top 5 most popular U.S. domestic flight routes.

Most Popular US Domestic Flight Routes

1. San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX): It is the busiest airline route in the United States, with 263 weekly flights (frequencies) in each direction. Flying on this route has slowed this year compared to last, with scheduled flight times now slightly longer. The average flight time is now 1 hour and 33 minutes, and six airlines offer regular service on this route.

2. Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS): It is the second busiest domestic U.S. route. Similar to SFO-LAX, it offers a less frequent service presently than it did before the pandemic (-22 flights), but more weekly flights than in the previous year (+13 flights). This year, this route’s average flying speed increased somewhat. This year’s scheduled flight times are 1 minute shorter, at 1 hour and 14 minutes.

3. Los Angeles (LAX) and New York (JFK): It has an average scheduled flying time of 5 hours and 33 minutes. There are three airlines flying this route: JetBlue, the largest, with a 36% share of flights, Delta Air Lines with 33% share of flights, and American Airlines with a 31% share.

4. Washington National Airport (DCA) to Boston (BOS): It is the only one of the Top 5 domestic routes which is busier now. With 203 flights each way per week, this is almost a 20% increase on flights. Flying times have got longer, rising from 1 hour 40 minutes.

5. Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to New York (LGA): American, Delta, and United all run this route with no LCC competition. United has the most weekly flights, with 81 of the 200 scheduled, but hasn’t adjusted capacity or flying time since last May. American, has scaled back from 97 weekly flights last year to 69 this year. As a result, average flight lengths have grown, and the fraction of flights that take longer than 2:15 hours has risen to 34% of all flights.