10 Most Common Questions People Ask About International Flights from the USA

You are a beginner or a seasoned traveler, flying internationally from the United States sparks plenty of curiosity for all. From understanding what counts as “international” and “domestic” travel to knowing how many airports are equipped for overseas arrivals, these queries are based on the complexities all face. With details on government advisories and the role of foreign airlines, we have tried to create a comprehensive picture of what U.S. travelers really want to know before planning the next international trip. Here are the 10 most common questions to help you get an insight into air travel in the USA.

1. What is considered international travel from the USA?

International travel from the USA generally means traveling to any country outside U.S. sovereign territory. This includes cities that are not a part of the United States. Apart from European, Asian, African, and Oceania Countries, Canada and Mexico are also considered international. However, traveling to U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are considered domestic travel because these locations are under U.S. jurisdiction, not foreign countries.

2. How many airports in the USA are classified as ‘International’ Airports?

There is no single official FAA list that includes the number of international airports in the USA. However, there are commercial or primary airports, defined by the presence of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities. This allows flights to arrive directly from foreign countries. If we look into readily available datasets and airport directories, there are over 400 airports in the U.S. that are designated to handle international arrivals in some form. There are also more than 400 airports equipped with the facilities and designation to be considered international entry points. These include both major airline hubs with regularly scheduled international passenger flights and smaller airports that may handle private international flights or seasonal/charter international service.

In everyday travel contexts, most people focus on the roughly 180–200 airports that regularly receive international commercial flights. 

3. How many passengers travel from the USA to international destinations annually?

According to data derived from the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. and foreign airlines carried approximately 270 million passengers between the United States and the rest of the world in 2025. 

This annual total includes both U.S. citizens departing to foreign destinations and non-U.S. citizens arriving in the United States. If we talk only about US passport holders, approximately 113 million departed the United States for foreign destinations in 2025.

Data as per the destinations:

• Mexico: 4 million passengers (slightly down, -0.1% YoY)
• Canada: 2.4 million (a sharper drop, -11.9% YoY)
• United Kingdom: 1.6 million (-5.6% YoY)
• Dominican Republic: 994,000 (+6.8% YoY, showing strong growth)
• Japan: 928,000 (+8.9% YoY, another growth market)

Data by NTTO for Top U.S. Gateways serving international locations:

• New York (JFK): 2.8 million passengers
• Miami (MIA): 2.3 million passengers
• Los Angeles (LAX): 2.1 million passengers
• San Francisco (SFO): 1.4 million passengers
• Newark (EWR): 1.4 million passengers

The IATA shared data indicating that North American airlines (including U.S. carriers) saw international traffic grow 5.9% year-over-year. 

• North American airlines (which include U.S. carriers) saw international traffic grow 5.9% year-over-year.
• Capacity rose by 5.6%, keeping pace with demand.
• Load factor (seat occupancy) reached 84.3%, one of the highest globally.

4. What are the major flight booking websites for international travel?

There are many reputed and trusted OTAs available for flight booking. The following are some recommended flight booking websites for U.S. travelers, each offering different features for comparing airlines and finding deals:

• Kayak is a travel search engine that aggregates prices from hundreds of airlines and booking sites. Users can set price alerts, explore flexible dates, and compare international flight options across multiple carriers.
• Google Flights is a trusted, fast, and intuitive platform for international flight searches. It specializes in tools for tracking fare trends, exploring destinations by price, and comparing with flexible travel dates.
• Skyscanner is best for finding competitive international fares. It usually provides searches for low-cost carriers that other platforms may miss.
• PackedBag specializes in highlighting affordable international flights and package deals online. The platform provides insight into lesser-known routes and offers budget-friendly options for travelers.
• CheapFlightsFares is where users can find discounted international flights, last-minute deals, and fare alerts for popular overseas destinations. It is an online flight booking agency offering competitive fares.

5. What are the most popular overseas air travel routes?

The USA has some of the biggest airports, adding major layovers and flight changes. If we look into the data of popular overseas air travel routes, there are a few airports dominated by connections between major U.S. hubs and key international cities. Following is the data for some of these airports with their approximate passenger handling per annum. 

• New York (JFK) – London Heathrow (LHR): 1.6 million passengers
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Tokyo Haneda (HND): 928,000 passengers (+8.9% YoY)
• Miami (MIA) – Santo Domingo (SDQ): 994,000 passengers (+6.8% YoY)
• New York (JFK) – Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 850,000 passengers
• San Francisco (SFO) – Hong Kong (HKG): 720,000 passengers
• Chicago (ORD) – Toronto (YYZ): 2.4 million passengers (-11.9% YoY, Canada overall)
• New York (JFK) – Mexico City (MEX): 4 million passengers (-0.1% YoY, Mexico overall)
• Los Angeles (LAX) – Seoul Incheon (ICN): 650,000 passengers
• Newark (EWR) – London Heathrow (LHR): 600,000 passengers
• Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Cancun (CUN): 580,000 passengers

This data is based on NTTO and DOT official records for 2025. This also indicates that Mexico and Canada remain the largest international markets. The Transatlantic routes, especially to London and Paris, continue to dominate overseas travel. There was strong growth for Asia-Pacific routes, for cities like Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong. This indicated renewed demand for long-haul travel. Leisure travelers were seen to be more driven towards Caribbean destinations.

6. What are the most popular international vacation destinations for US travelers?

US travelers have eclectic tastes when it comes to vacation. This is the reason why U.S. travelers are seen seeking a leisure vacation amidst warm climates and cultural attractions. Along with these, accessibility from major U.S. airports also plays an important part in picking the top destination for vacation. We have derived this data based on season and the connectivity of flights from the USA airports. 

• Direct flights from major U.S. hubs (New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and Chicago) make Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe simple choices.
• Short flight times to Mexico and the Caribbean encourage quick getaways.
• Major international gateways (JFK, LAX, MIA, SFO, EWR) connect seamlessly to Europe, Asia, and Oceania.

If we pick the best cities based on weather, here is a list:

Summer (June - August)

• Mexico City & Cancun for beautiful beaches, resorts, and short flight times from the U.S.
• London, Paris, and Rome for the history, culture, and cuisine.
• Tokyo & Bangkok in the Asia and Oceania region
• San Juan (Puerto Rico) & Nassau (Bahamas) are popular for the beaches, sun, sand, and easy access for travelers seeking a tropical getaway.

Winter (November to February)

• Cancun & Riviera Maya have all-inclusive resorts for a luxury stay. Around 22 American Cities have Direct Flights to Cancun, making it a hot pick. 
• • The Dominican Republic (Punta Cana, Santo Domingo) trends for its quick connectivity, warm weather, and affordable resorts. 
• Tokyo, London, and Paris get dreamy for US travelers during winter. Also, the cheaper airfare and accommodation attract travelers on a budget journey.
• Sydney is warm and pleasant for US travelers in winter. 
• Bangkok and Thailand come into consideration for longer trips, especially from November to February.

Spring (March to April or Early May) / Autumn (September to October or Early November)

• Tokyo is most in demand for spring travel for the cherry blossom.
• Cancun & Riviera Maya remain a hit for their connectivity and leisure vibe.

7. What is the best time of the year for overseas travel?

It depends on a number of factors, including the weather, crowds, and cost. But if we pick places as per the most favorable periods, the Caribbean is widely popular during the spring (March and April). The reason is that Caribbean beaches are less crowded in spring than in summer, and airfare is often lower than peak summer rates. Not to forget, Japan is also the best place for the spring cherry blossom season and spring festivals.

If we look at the yearly travel patterns, some regions become popular with every changing weather. 

• Summers, starting late May to early September, tend to be hot and humid, which gives US travelers the best time to explore Oceania regions. 
• Australia is widely popular during summer, as the southern regions enjoy mild winter weather from June to August. 
• Iceland and Norway also rank on the list for the unusual experiences. The outdoors are ideal for adventures like waterfalls, glaciers, and the Golden Circle.
• Winter, starting from November to January, is when US travelers are drawn towards Mexico, Southeast Asia, or Australia. 
• Prices for Europe can spike around the holidays, but skiing and winter festivals in countries like Switzerland, Austria, and Japan are major draws.

8. What is the latest international travel advisory issued by the US?

As per the latest updates, the U.S. government has issued an advisory for parts of Mexico following a major security operation targeting cartel leadership. The government has advised U.S. travelers to exercise increased caution in states, including Jalisco, Tamaulipas, Michoacán, Guerrero, and Nuevo León. Even airlines have temporarily canceled or modified flights, and ground transportation services may be limited. Travelers in the USA are requested not to plan for Mexico at this point in time and wait till further notice. 
Apart from Mexico, there are no restrictions or limitations as such. As the U.S. State Department regularly publishes travel advisory levels for countries worldwide, keeping a check on travel news will be beneficial. You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive real-time alerts. The advisory ranges from Level 1, “Exercise normal precautions," for lower?risk destinations to Level 4, which is “Do Not Travel," for high?risk countries facing conflict, terrorism, or instability. Countries with Level 4 advisories include 22 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Iran, Haiti and Afghanistan, where serious security concerns exist. 

9. What are the prominent foreign airline companies operating in the USA?

There are many international or foreign airlines in the United States, offering both transatlantic and transpacific flights. 

• Air Canada—Extensive service to U.S. cities from Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal (e.g., Toronto–New York JFK, Vancouver–Los Angeles).
• British Airways—Strong transatlantic presence (e.g., London Heathrow–New York JFK, London Heathrow–Chicago O’Hare).
• Volaris—Mexico's low-cost carrier with routes like Mexico City–Los Angeles and Guadalajara–Chicago.
• Lufthansa—Germany's flag carrier serving routes like Frankfurt–New York JFK, and Munich–San Francisco.
• WestJet—Canadian airline serving routes such as Calgary–Las Vegas and Toronto–Orlando.
• Avianca serves as Colombia’s flag carrier. It operates routes to and from Bogotá. –Miami and Bogotá –New York JFK
• Air France operates routes to and from Paris Charles de Gaulle–New York JFK, Paris–Los Angeles.
• Aeromexico—operates routes to and from Mexico City–Houston and Mexico City–Los Angeles.
• Turkish Airlines operates routes to and from Istanbul–New York JFK and Istanbul–Miami.
• Emirates—operates routes to and from Dubai–New York JFK, and Dubai–Los Angeles.

Other strong players include Qatar Airways (Doha–Philadelphia, Doha–Dallas/Fort Worth), Virgin Atlantic (London Heathrow–Atlanta, London–Boston), and Copa Airlines (Panama City–Miami, Panama City–Newark).

10. What is the ETIAS requirement for travel to Europe?

European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will be a mandatory requirement for US citizens traveling to 30 European countries, including those covered under the Schengen area and Cyprus. Travel to Ireland is exempt from this requirement. 

The travelers first need to apply from the official website or mobile application of ETIAS on payment of Euro 20 for people of age 18-70 years and for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The application generally gets approved within minutes, but can take up to 30 days as well. So, those planning a vacation to Europe shall make this application at least a few weeks in advance. On approval, this remains valid till 3 years.