Navigating Economic Turbulence: Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on US Air Travel and Its Economic Ramifications

This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. aviation industry by analyzing key operational and financial metrics alongside public health data. Drawing from multiple data sources, including the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and Worldometers, the analysis integrates trends in passenger traffic, flight operations, airline revenue, and net income with COVID-19 case trends. The BTS data provides detailed insights into the volume and nature of airline activity, while Worldometers contributes real-time and historical COVID-19 statistics that contextualize fluctuations in industry performance. By exploring the correlation between public health developments and aviation metrics, this study offers a comprehensive understanding of how the pandemic disrupted air travel and highlights potential pathways to recovery.