Nashville's most frequent domestic destinations

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is poised to reach a major milestone in 2024, with an anticipated 24 million passengers passing through its terminals.

As one of the fastest-growing airports in the US, BNA continues to expand its reach, offering a broad network of domestic destinations that cater to both business and leisure travelers.

The December 2024 schedule, as analyzed by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, reveals a fascinating snapshot of the airport's busiest routes, showcasing its vital role in connecting Nashville to key cities across the nation.

This article delves into the data, examining the airlines, destinations, and trends that define BNA’s most frequent domestic flights, underscoring the airport's importance as a central hub in the US aviation landscape.

Atlanta – Delta Air Lines

Nashville to Atlanta remains one of the most frequently traveled routes, with 163 flights in December 2024. Delta Air Lines uses the Boeing 737-900 aircraft on this route, offering 28,346 seats.

The ASMs for this route reached 6,066,044, indicating its significant capacity and demand. In the reverse direction, Atlanta to Nashville is also heavily serviced, with 161 flights scheduled in December 2024.

This leg provides 28,000 seats and has an ASM value of 5,992,000. The high frequency on both legs underscores Atlanta's importance as a central connecting hub.

Timetable of Airlines Serving Nashville

American Airlines connects Nashville to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) with 147 flights each way in December 2024.

Operating the Boeing 737-800, this route accommodates 25,284 seats in each direction. The ASM for the Nashville-to-DFW segment stands at 15,954,204, highlighting this route's significance for business and leisure travelers.

The same ASM value applies to the reverse leg from Dallas/Fort Worth to Nashville, indicating a well-balanced demand in both directions.

Charlotte, another vital hub for American, is connected to Nashville with 136 flights in each direction in December 2024.

The airline employs the Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft for these services, offering 10,336 seats per leg. The ASM for both legs of this route is 3,400,544.

Charlotte is a key connecting airport for passengers heading to destinations along the East Coast and beyond.

On the other hand, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) will be connected to Nashville with 103 flights in each direction in December 2024.

American operates these flights using the CRJ700, which provides 6,695 seats per leg. The ASM for this route is 3,762,590, emphasizing its importance for government and business travelers commuting between the two cities.

Baltimore/Washington and Denver – Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines operates 117 flights from Nashville to Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) this month. The carrier used the 737-700 which provides 16,731 seats on this route.

The ASM for this segment is 9,821,097, reflecting this route's popularity among business and leisure travelers. Whilst Denver is another high-demand destination from Nashville, serviced by Southwest, with 109 flights in December 2024.

The carrier utilizes the 737 MAX 8, offering 19,075 seats. This route's ASM is impressive at 19,322,975, highlighting its role as a critical link between the Midwest and the Mountain West regions.

The data from Cirium reveals that American Airlines and Delta Air Lines dominate several of Nashville's busiest routes.

Delta maintains a stronghold on the Atlanta route, leveraging Atlanta's position as a key hub. Similarly, American showcases its influence on routes to Dallas/Fort Worth and Charlotte, two of its most prominent hubs.

Southwest is also crucial, particularly on the Baltimore/Washington and Denver routes. As a low-cost carrier, Southwest's capacity and frequency cater to the growing demand for affordable domestic travel.

The variety of aircraft used on these routes reflects the airlines' strategic planning to optimize efficiency and capacity:

• Delta employs the 737-900 for its Atlanta routes, balancing seating capacity and fuel efficiency.
• American's 737-800 for its Dallas/Fort Worth flights, ensures higher seating capacity. At the same time, its use of regional jets like the CRJ700 and CRJ900 on shorter routes (e.g., Charlotte and Washington, D.C.) caters to smaller markets without sacrificing frequency.
• Southwest's reliance on the 737-700 and 737 MAX 8 highlights its focus on fleet standardization and operational efficiency.

The December 2024 data from Cirium provides a snapshot of Nashville International Airport's busiest domestic routes, highlighting the airlines, aircraft, and metrics that define its operations.

With high frequencies to major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Charlotte, BNA remains a critical link in the US aviation network.

As the airport prepares to welcome 24 million passengers in 2024, its robust route network and airline partnerships position it for sustained growth. Nashville remains a key gateway for domestic travelers nationwide, whether for business or leisure.

According to Cirium, this data offers valuable insights into the trends shaping air travel in and out of Nashville, further solidifying its role as a significant hub in the Southeast United States.