World Airline Fleets in 2024: Top 10 Aviation Armadas With Most Airplanes

As of this writing, there are 5,193 commercial airplanes in the air in the world. Despite the rise of internet-based communication, businesses continue to find it profitable to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars shuttling people around for face-to-face meetings–not to mention the families and other travelers journeying for other reasons. To meet this massive demand for high-speed global travel, airlines have assembled vast fleets of aircraft. It’s worth appreciating this for a moment: multiple corporations employ metal tubes capable of burning decayed organic matter at high temperatures in a controlled fashion that propels the tubes forward into the sky and across the globe. A miracle!

Just who are these corporations, and how large are there fleets? Due to the immense cost involved in making air travel possible and safe, the prices per plane are large. Assembling a fleet will cost in the billions of dollars–no wonder airlines are constantly declaring bankruptcy. The top ten largest airplane fleets will take us around the world, and we begin in a country where all numbers are jumbo: China.

10. China Eastern Airlines: 349 planes

Headquartered in Shanghai, don’t let the name fool you: China Eastern will fly you anywhere, and they’ve got the planes to do it. They count hundreds of destinations for their 349 planes. And their planes come with perks: China Eastern is a member of the SkyTeam, the Delta-headed global alliance of airlines that share flights and frequent flier miles. Last year, this behemoth flew 73 million passengers–or roughly 1/15 the population of China.

9. Air Canada: 354 planes

Somewhat surprisingly given the relatively small population of Canada, our neighbors to the north top at least one Chinese airline! They deserve some maple syrup for their efforts. Headquartered in Montreal but with its largest hub in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, Air Canada is the flag carrier airline for the nation. A member of the United-led Star Alliance, Air Canada flies a number of US-based routes out of Toronto, Vancouver, and other major Canadian cities. Overall, the airline counts 178 destinations for its aircraft. Given the rules restricting foreign carriers from serving direct flights within a country, Air Canada enjoys something of a monopoly position within Canada–ensuring that it puts it pile of planes to good use for some time to come.

8. Air France: 381 planes

The French flag carrier, based out of Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, is a founding member of SkyTeam and a subsidiary of the Air France/KLM group, formed from the merger of Air France with the Dutch flag carrier KLM. Befitting the fifth-largest national economy, the 381-plane fleet is quite sizeable. With flights to over 90 countries and over 30 local destinations, the airline is no shrimp. Unsurprisingly, the vast majority of its fleet is composed of Airbus planes–the French airline has purchased fewer airplanes than average from Boeing and far more from the France-based producer Airbus. French Socialism, perhaps, but the size of the fleet speaks for itself.

7. Lufthansa: 401 planes

Jumping one up the GDP tables, the German flag carrier Lufthansa has a somewhat larger country and a somewhat larger airline. Once state-owned, it was privatized in 1994 shortly after German reunification. The airline’s main hub, Frankfurt, is one of Europe’s largest airports, and the company is based in the industrial Rhineland, in Cologne. With 197 international destinations on top of 18 domestic terminals, the airline and its 401 planes are major players. Perhaps its most newsworthy facet at the moment is a recent promotion that encouraged Swedish people to change their name to Klaus-Heidi and somehow managed to get 42 Swedes to do so in exchange for a chance to win a year of free rent in Berlin, along with a few free flights. With 401 operating aircraft, they must have figured they could spare a few seats to some adventuresome Swedes!

6. China Southern: 423 planes

Unsurprisingly, the world’s largest country shows up again on the list of the world’s largest airline fleets. China Southern is based in Guangzhou in Guangdong Province–a province the size of Wisconsin with a population over 100 million. The airline is China’s biggest by fleet size and by passengers, and ranks the fourth largest by domestic passengers worldwide. It features a main hub in Beijing alongside its Guangzhou home base, and flies to a total of 193 destinations with hundreds more options from its SkyTeam partners.

5. FedEx Express: 634 planes

Coming in at a top five position, FedEx is the only operator on this list that doesn’t fly passengers–or at least not human passengers. Instead, it flies freight: lots of freight. Based out of Memphis and founded as Federal Express, FedEx jumped into being as an overnight freight delivery service entirely reliant on aircraft–unlike legacy competitors like UPS, which made the transition to air only slowly. Today, it operates one of the largest aircraft fleets in the world. One would-be competitor, the United States Postal Service, doesn’t own any of its own aircraft, leaving FedEx the untouched freight fleet champion. Among its many hubs is one surprise: Anchorage, Alaska. Instead of delivering there, however, Anchorage is just a way-point for FedEx’s continual flights between China and other Asian countries and the US mainland. Not a bad showing considering they have no passengers!

4. Southwest: 683 planes

Based out of Dallas, this one-time regional carrier got its start flying only within Texas–letting it avoid FAA monopoly regulations and operate a low-cost strategy. Following deregulation, Southwest exploded and now flies more passengers than any other US airline. With 683 aircraft to manage, one way that Southwest stays cheap is by operating nothing except Boeing 737 planes–thus ensuring that its mechanics know how to fix every plane by heart, and that its parts are essentially interchangeable. With each of its planes flying, on average, 6 flights per day, the fleet is large and overworked–the better to keep costs down. With 683 aircraft and a recent purchase of carrier AirTran, Southwest’s future is looking up.

3. United Airlines: 1,264 planes

A massive fleet for a massive airline. Chicago-based (actually Willis Tower-based: a massive tower for a massive airline) airline United operates one of the largest fleets in the world, befitting its anchor position in the Star Alliance. With hundreds of destinations, United actually offers 10 different hubs–critical to its success, this dense network captures the majority of Americans in its various hubs, enabling a wide array of popular destinations in major cities including Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Houston, Newark, Denver, San Francisco, Cleveland, and Tokyo. Included in its fleet are 8 Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, the ultimate next-generation aircraft featuring improved range and fuel efficiency (and battery fires). This 1,264-strong fleet is good enough for third-place worldwide.

2. Delta: 1,280 planes

Another regional carrier that has flown to prominence, Delta takes its name from its original home: based in tiny Monroe, Louisiana, the various destinations it flew to were based in and around the Mississippi River Delta. Prior to its start as Delta, the airline began as a crop-dusting company to combat the boll weevil infestation; after converting to passenger service, customers (1 at a time) rode on an upturned bin where the pesticide used to go. From these meager beginnings, Delta has expanded and now operated the second-largest fleet on earth, with 5,000 daily flights based out of Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport–the busiest in the country. Delta’s largest fleet expansion followed the bankruptcy of Pan-Am Airlines in 1991, when Delta took over a selection of its aircraft assets and flight routes. After its most recent merger with Northwest, Delta briefly held the top spot on this list, but is in the process of being surpassed by the new number one, far beyond even Delta’s 1,280 aircraft.

1. American Airlines: 1,494 planes

After their just-approved merger–more accurately a takeover of bankrupt American by the better-run (and not bankrupt) US Airways, which was itself  taken over by the even better run (and even less bankrupt) America West a few years earlier–the aggregate airline, still known as American, will operate a fleet of nearly fifteen hundred planes. This figure puts the airline nearly 25% ahead of their nearest competitor. The airline’s main hub, Dallas-Fort Worth, is a pre-merger monopoly for American, with the original airline operating 85% of total passenger traffic at the airport–a number that can only increase with the merger. With hundreds of destinations each, the newly created airline will be the largest in the world by many measures. The most visible, by far, will be its 1,494 aircraft crisscrossing the skies day and night.

How do fuel efficiency and sustainability influence airline fleet decisions?

As airlines face growing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and improve sustainability, fuel efficiency has become a critical factor in fleet decisions. Airlines are increasingly looking to modernize their fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft, which not only reduces operational costs but also helps meet environmental regulations and consumer demand for greener travel. Key considerations include:

• Fuel-efficient Aircraft Models: Newer models like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 are designed to use significantly less fuel than older planes, making them popular choices for airlines aiming to reduce emissions.
• Sustainability Goals: Many airlines have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This has prompted investments in fuel-efficient aircraft and exploration of alternative fuels, such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80%.
• Cost Savings: Fuel-efficient planes are not only better for the environment but also lower operating costs. With fuel accounting for a major portion of airline expenses, modern fleets help airlines stay profitable while addressing environmental concerns.

This shift towards sustainability and efficiency is shaping the future of air travel, as airlines seek to balance profitability with environmental responsibility.

Key Insights

• Global Airline Fleet Size: As of 2024, there are 5,193 commercial airplanes in operation worldwide, highlighting the continued demand for air travel despite advancements in digital communication.
• China’s Dominance: China is prominently featured in the list with two airlines, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, reflecting its significant role in global aviation.
• Top Airline Fleets: American Airlines tops the list with 1,494 planes, followed by Delta with 1,280 planes, and United Airlines with 1,264 planes.
• Freight Focus: FedEx Express is the only freight-focused airline in the top ten, operating 634 planes and showcasing the importance of air freight in global logistics.
• Regional Specializations: Southwest Airlines is noted for its unique strategy of operating only Boeing 737 aircraft, which helps in maintaining low costs and high operational efficiency.
• Strategic Alliances: Many airlines, such as China Eastern (SkyTeam), Air Canada (Star Alliance), and Air France (SkyTeam), are part of global alliances that enhance their reach and operational capabilities.
• National Flag Carriers: Several airlines on the list, including Air France, Lufthansa, and Air Canada, serve as national flag carriers, reflecting their importance to their respective countries’ air travel infrastructure.

FAQ

1. What factors contribute to the size of an airline’s fleet? Fleet size is influenced by various factors including the airline’s operational scope (domestic and international routes), financial resources, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and partnerships within global alliances. Larger airlines often have extensive networks and require a substantial number of aircraft to maintain their schedules and service levels.
2. Why do some airlines have a monopoly in their home countries? Regulations often restrict foreign carriers from operating domestic routes within a country, allowing national carriers to dominate the local market. Additionally, hub airports in major cities serve as strategic points for these airlines, further strengthening their market position.
3. How do freight airlines like FedEx compare to passenger airlines in terms of fleet size? Freight airlines like FedEx, while not carrying passengers, still operate large fleets to meet the high demand for overnight and express cargo services. Their operational models focus on efficiency and logistics, often involving strategic hubs and specialized aircraft suited for cargo transport.
4. What are the benefits of an airline being part of a global alliance? Membership in a global alliance, such as SkyTeam or Star Alliance, allows airlines to offer more destinations through code-sharing agreements, provide frequent flyer benefits across member airlines, and achieve cost efficiencies through shared services and resources. This enhances their competitiveness and customer reach.
5. How do mergers and acquisitions impact the size of an airline’s fleet? Mergers and acquisitions can significantly increase an airline’s fleet size by combining the aircraft assets of the involved airlines. This often leads to expanded route networks, increased market share, and operational synergies. For instance, the merger of American Airlines and US Airways resulted in the largest fleet in the world.
6. Why do some airlines focus on a single type of aircraft? Airlines like Southwest Airlines operate a single type of aircraft (Boeing 737) to simplify maintenance, training, and operations. This strategy reduces costs, as crews and mechanics only need to be trained on one aircraft type, and spare parts are interchangeable across the entire fleet. This operational efficiency is key to maintaining low fares and high utilization rates.

By Nestor Gilbert

Nestor Gilbert is a senior B2B and SaaS analyst and a core contributor at FinancesOnline for over 5 years. With his experience in software development and extensive knowledge of SaaS management, he writes mostly about emerging B2B technologies and their impact on the current business landscape. However, he also provides in-depth reviews on a wide range of software solutions to help businesses find suitable options for them. Through his work, he aims to help companies develop a more tech-forward approach to their operations and overcome their SaaS-related challenges.