Top 10 World’s Largest Airlines

With recent mergers and acquisitions in the airline market – particularly in the United States – the title of the world’s largest airline has been passing around quite frequently.

Here we list the top 10 world’s largest airlines by aircraft fleet size.

As you can see, the top five positions are dominated by US carriers (which include their regional and commuter fleets), followed by China.

The figures are correct as of June 2016.

1. American Airlines

1,556 aircraft

American became the world’s largest airline when it merged with US Airways last year. US Airways itself has been through mergers with many airlines, creating a real family tree of history in this now huge carrier.

2. Delta Air Lines

1,330 aircraft

Delta merged with Northwest Airlines in 2008 and has continued to grow, with a giant operation at Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson airport and worldwide coverage.

3. United Airlines

Photo by Oscar Elvir Vasquez

1,229 aircraft

United vastly increased in size when it joined forces with Continental Airlines in 2010. Its worldwide footprint is huge, including bases in the Far East and massive regional fleets.

4. Southwest Airlines

720 aircraft

Southwest was a pioneering airline and, apart from a few Boeing 727s operated in its early days, has stuck with the 737 ever since. Today it has a huge fleet of -700 and -800 examples, with older -300s and -500s in the process of retirement.

5. FedEx Express

688 aircraft

The world’s largest cargo airline, with a large worldwide reach and many smaller feeder aircraft servicing its US hubs, which accounts for its vast size.

6. China Southern Airlines

515 aircraft

The growth in China’s carriers in recent years has seen independent airlines such as China Southern overtake the national carrier.

7. China Eastern Airlines

429 aircraft

Another large Chinese airline with a mixed fleet of narrow and wide body airliners and a network reaching across the globe.

8. Air Canada

C-FRAM 777 Air Canada (c) Erik Ritterbach

404 aircraft

With its various feeder and low cost arms, Air Canada is a considerable force, comprising small regional turboprops right up to Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners.

9. Air China

384 aircraft

The national carrier of China may not be the country’s largest, but it has still grown to a considerable size.

10. Ryanair

349 aircraft

Ryanair is Europe’s largest low cost carrier, and largest airline by fleet size. Like its inspiration, Southwest Airlines, Ryanair only operates Boeing 737 aircraft, with multiple aircraft per month joining the fleet. It is an early customer for the new 737MAX.