The Shrinking Short-Haul Flight

Data from aviation analytics firm OAG shows that US domestic short-haul flights under 250 nautical miles have decreased by 11% from 2016 to 2026, while longer routes have grown. The number of scheduled short flights in 2026 is nearly 4 million.

Short flights are more expensive for airlines than longer cruise flights. — John Grant, Senior Analyst, OAG

Industry Observations

Under cost or resource pressure, airlines concentrate flying where they can move the most passengers with the fewest pilots. This insight from Faye Malarkey Black, CEO of the Regional Airline Association, underscores a fundamental shift in airline strategy.

Factors Affecting Short Flights

Several structural challenges are driving the decline:

• Higher fuel consumption per mile due to the intense fuel burn of takeoff and landing phases
• Increased operational strain on air traffic control systems and repeated use of gate space
• Aircraft efficiency shifts — new generation narrow-body aircraft are more economical on longer routes, redirecting airline focus
• Rising fuel costs — Jet fuel prices doubled from early February to March, influenced by the Iran war context, adding significant expense

Route Trends

While short-haul routes are shrinking, the picture varies by distance:

Despite the decline, short flights remain integral to the hub-and-spoke system, connecting smaller communities to major hubs.

Expert Statements

Joshua Schank, urban planning professor at UCLA, noted that rail connections often link downtowns, not airports, making short flights useful for connecting passengers.

Ahmed Abdelghani, professor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, stated that newer aircraft economics favor longer routes, potentially sacrificing short-haul routes.

Faye Malarkey Black added that regional airlines now serve about two-thirds of US airports, down from three-quarters in the early 2000s.

Short flights are integral to the hub-and-spoke system, connecting smaller communities to hubs.