Kaleem Pasha Chronicles

US airlines carry over 1 billion passengers every year and operate the world's largest airline fleets, with the biggest carriers flying over 900 planes each.

Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus loyalty programs are each worth over $30 billion, more valuable than the airline operations themselves because banks pay billions for miles.

American, Delta, United and Southwest made $4-6 billion each in ancillary revenue in 2021, mostly from baggage fees and seat selection. That is more than many airlines' total revenue.

The 4 major US airlines American, Delta, United and Southwest control about 80% of the US domestic market, creating an oligopoly where most routes have little competition.

IndiGo controls 60-64% of India's domestic market with a 440 aircraft fleet. It is the sole airline on 330+ routes and has 900+ aircraft on order, making it India's largest airline.

Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat at over 10,000 sq km. When covered with 1-2 inches of rainwater, it becomes a giant natural mirror reflecting the sky perfectly.

Turkmenistan's Door to Hell is a 230-foot-wide gas crater in the Karakum Desert. Burning since 1971 after geologists lit it to burn off methane, it was expected to last days but has burned for over 50 years.

Tanzania's Lake Natron turns blood-red and has a pH of 10.5. The water is so caustic it can burn skin and eyes, and it preserves dead animals as stone-like mummies.