Largest airlines in the world

Last updated

The largest airlines in the world can be measured in several ways. As of 2024, United Airlines was the largest in terms of available seat miles (ASM), [1] revenue seat miles (RPM), [2] mainline fleet size, [3] and the number of both mainline employees [4] and destinations served; [5] Delta Air Lines was the most valuable by revenue, assets, market capitalization, and brand value [6] ; American Airlines Group carries the most passengers and has the most employees when American Eagle is included; FedEx Express carries the most freight in tonne-kilometers; Southwest Airlines has the greatest number of routes; and Turkish Airlines serves the most countries. [7]

Contents

Financial Performance

Delta Air Lines ranks first by revenue, total assets, market capitalization and brand value. N501DN@PEK (20180324151921).jpg
Delta Air Lines ranks first by revenue, total assets, market capitalization and brand value.
United Airlines ranks first in ASM, RPM, fleet size and number of destinations and employees. N24976@PEK (20200421150836).jpg
United Airlines ranks first in ASM, RPM, fleet size and number of destinations and employees.
American Airlines Group ranks first by number of passengers carried. N822AN American Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner s-n 40642 (37914578311).jpg
American Airlines Group ranks first by number of passengers carried.

Revenue ($b 2024)

RankAirline GroupCountryRevenueNet IncomeAssetsMarket
Cap
Employees
(US$ billions)
1 Steady2.svg Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 61.63.575.339103,000 [8]
2 Steady2.svg United Airlines Holdings Flag of the United States.svg  United States 57.13.174.132107,300 [9]
3 Steady2.svg American Airlines Group Flag of the United States.svg  United States 54.21.368.811133,300 [10]
4 Steady2.svg Lufthansa Group Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 40.41.551.1998,739
5 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg International Airlines Group Flag of Spain.svg  Spain/Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 34.22.941.62171,794
6 Red Arrow Down.svg Air France–KLM Flag of France.svg  France/Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 33.90.6937.52.476,566
7 Steady2.svg Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 27.50.4733.81772,450 [11]
8 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 24.5–0.5943.71397,899
9 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg Air China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 23.01.622.01787,190
10 Red Arrow Down.svg Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 22.56.835.61257,991

Note that Emirates is a state-owned company, and is thus not included in this list of public companies. Its 2024 revenue was estimated to be around $37.4B or 5th place. Qatar Airways Group is similarly privately held with its 2024 revenue of around $22.2B or 10th place (with Emirates included).

Brand Value ($b 2024) [12]

RankAirlineCountry$bnYear-to-year
change
1 Steady2.svg Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10.771
2 Steady2.svg American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10.242
3 Steady2.svg United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8.676
4 Steady2.svg Emirates Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 6.610
5 Steady2.svg Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 5.394
6 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg British Airways Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 3.175
7 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg Qatar Airways Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 3.138
8 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg Air Canada Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 2.805
9 Red Arrow Down.svg China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2.767
10 Green Arrow Up Darker.svg Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2.541

Capacity

Available Seat Miles (ASM in billions) [13]

RankAirlineCountry202420232022202120202019Ref
1 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 311291248179123285 [14]
2 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 293278260215143285 [15]
3 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 288272233194134275 [16]
4 Emirates Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 2222301779940228 [17]
5 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 178170148132103157 [18]
6 Qatar Airways Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 15915713110058149 [19]
7 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1591521389130118 [20]
8 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 15119796133134214 [21]
9 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1451461248047117 [22]
10 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1381146010095168 [23]

Available Seat Kilometers (ASK in billions)

RankAirline GroupCountry2022202120202019
1 American Airlines Group Flag of the United States.svg  United States 347259147388
2 United Airlines Holdings Flag of the United States.svg  United States 332207118385
3 Delta Air Lines Group Flag of the United States.svg  United States 314216118382
4 Air France–KLM Flag of France.svg  France/Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 23711681275
5 Emirates Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 22593
#11
78298
6 International Airlines Group Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK/Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 21578
#15
72285
7 Lufthansa Group Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 20789
#13
69296
8 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 19916687211
#11
9 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 16286
#14
153
#15
10 Qatar Airways Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 154172
#13
Sources [24] [25] [26] [27] [28]

Passengers (millions)

RankAirline GroupCountry202320222021202020192018
1 American Airlines Group Flag of the United States.svg  United States 21119912495215203
2 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 19017512380204192
3 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 1821689752148142
4 United Airlines Holdings Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1651447357162158
5 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 13715712367162163
6 Lufthansa Group Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 1231012436145142
7 IAG Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  UK &
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
1159531
#12
118112
8 IndiGo Flag of India.svg  India 105754835
#11
61
#16
9 Air France–KLM Flag of France.svg  France &
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
948328
#14
85
#12
10 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 83724528
#17=
75
#14
Sources [29] [24] [30] [27] [31] [32]

Available Seats (millions, 2025)

American Airlines leads by capacity to carry passengers. American Airlines Boeing 777-200ER N775AN PVG 2013-5-21.png
American Airlines leads by capacity to carry passengers.
RankAirlineCountryAnnual capacity
1 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 250
2 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 230
3 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 214
4 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 208
5 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 180
6 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 170
7 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 162
8 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 130
9 easyJet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 127
10 Emirates Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 100

Scheduled Freight (millions of CTK) [33]

FedEx Express is the largest by freight tonne-kilometers. N885FD B777F Fedex (7001569004).jpg
FedEx Express is the largest by freight tonne-kilometers.
RankAirlineCountry202320222021202020192018
1 FedEx Express Flag of the United States.svg  United States 17,92319,54720,66019,65617,50317,499
2 Qatar Airways Cargo Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 14,40614,26716,10213,74013,02412,695
3 UPS Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 14,23915,88915,52914,37112,84212,459
4 Emirates SkyCargo Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 10,63610,15311,8429,56912,05212,713
5 Atlas Air Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8,9158,6758,4415,458 #124,522 #164,553 #16
6 Korean Air Cargo Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 8,4119,51810,4298,1047,4127,839
7 Turkish Cargo Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 8,3258,3189,2236,9777,0295,890
8 Cathay Pacific Cargo Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 8,0995,774 #138,2158,13710,93011,284
9 China Southern Airlines Cargo Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 7,6106,9158,0786,5916,8256,597
10 Cargolux Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Luxembourg 6,8077,9718,5877,3457,1807,322

Fleet Size

Aircraft operated (March 2025) [34]

United Airlines operates the largest number of aircraft, as of March 2025. N24976@PEK (20200421150836).jpg
United Airlines operates the largest number of aircraft, as of March 2025.
RankAirlineCountryNo.Ref.
1 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1009 [35]
2 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 981 [36]
3 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 978 [37]
4 Air China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 907 [ citation needed ]
5 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 797 [38]
6 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 653 [ citation needed ]
7 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 652 [ citation needed ]
8 SkyWest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 624 [39]
9 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 607 [ citation needed ]
10 Lufthansa Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 514 [ citation needed ]


    Aircraft owned (January 2025)

    China National Aviation Holdings Air China Group has the world's most valuable fleet, despite owning fewer aircraft than Delta Air Lines, Inc. or American Airlines Group, which co-lead by numbers. Air China Boeing 747-800 B-2482 p aft delta 717 YDSC 1672 (29481934346).jpg
    China National Aviation Holdings Air China Group has the world's most valuable fleet, despite owning fewer aircraft than Delta Air Lines, Inc. or American Airlines Group, which co-lead by numbers.
    RankHolding companyNo.Value ($bn)
    1 United Airlines Holdings 1,007 Increase2.svg17.9 Increase2.svg
    2 Delta Air Lines, Inc. 987 Increase2.svg15.8 Increase2.svg
    3 Air China Group 907 Increase2.svg19.0 Increase2.svg
    4 American Airlines Group 854 Increase2.svg16.7 Increase2.svg
    5 Southwest Airlines 830 Increase2.svg16.8 Increase2.svg
    6 Lufthansa Group 721 Increase2.svg11.7 Increase2.svg
    7 China Southern Airlines 663 Increase2.svg17.3 Increase2.svg
    8 China Eastern Airlines 652 Increase2.svg18.5 Increase2.svg
    9 Ryanair Holdings 607 Increase2.svg15.3 Increase2.svg
    10 Air France-KLM Group 572 Increase2.svg10.7 Increase2.svg
    11 IAG 570 Increase2.svg10.4 Increase2.svg
    12 SkyWest, Inc. 520 Increase2.svg4.5 Increase2.svg

    Network

    Countries served (August 2024)

    Turkish Airlines serves the largest number of countries, as of February 2024. VT-JEM@LHR 16SEP13 (9775923834).jpg
    Turkish Airlines serves the largest number of countries, as of February 2024.
    RankAirlineCountryNo.Ref.
    1 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 122 [40]
    2 Qatar Airways Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 88 [41]
    3 Ethiopian Airlines Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 86 [42]
    4 Air France Flag of France.svg  France 84 [43]
    5 Emirates Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 80 [44]
    =6 British Airways Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 76 [45]
    =6 Lufthansa Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 76 [46]
    8 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 75 [47]
    9 KLM Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 64 [48]
    10 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 61 [49]

    Passenger Destinations served (January 2025) [50]

    United Airlines serves the largest number of destinations, as of February 2024. N24976@PEK (20200421150836).jpg
    United Airlines serves the largest number of destinations, as of February 2024.
    RankAirlineCountryNo.
    1 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 374
    2 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 355
    3 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 311
    4 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 287
    5 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 239
    6 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 238
    7 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 224
    8 Lufthansa Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 216
    8 British Airways Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 216
    10 Air France Flag of France.svg  France 197

    Routes served (February 2024)

    Southwest Airlines serves the largest number of routes, as of February 2024. N908WN CVG (29244931277).jpg
    Southwest Airlines serves the largest number of routes, as of February 2024.
    RankAirlineCountryNo.Ref.
    1 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3,161 [51]
    2 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 2,631 [52]
    3 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1,237 [49]
    4 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1,051
    5 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 1,033
    6 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 975
    7 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 963
    8 Air China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 641
    9 IndiGo Flag of India.svg  India 610
    10 Turkish Airlines Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 531

    Daily Flights (August 2024) [53]

    RankAirlineCountryNo.
    1 American Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4,753
    2 United Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4,101
    3 Ryanair Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 3,292
    4 Southwest Airlines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 3,274
    5 Delta Air Lines Flag of the United States.svg  United States 2,872
    6 China Eastern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2,387
    7 China Southern Airlines Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 2,268
    8 IndiGo Flag of India.svg  India 2,074
    9 Air China Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 1,681
    10 easyJet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1,338

      See also

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