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I am glad to welcome you to this page, where you can find out about largest airlines in the world, or rather only about the 10 largest ones. In general, I want to say that the rating of airlines is quite relative, because the situation on the market passenger aviation changes from year to year. Thus, some airlines are experiencing serious financial problems and going bankrupt, which, for example, recently happened with the Hungarian Malev or the Italian Wind Jet, while others, on the contrary, are on the rise and are only increasing their turnover over the years. Be that as it may, below you will learn about 7 largest airlines in the world, which I identified based on factors: the number of aircraft in operation, as well as air passengers transported in 2011.

1. Delta Airlines is the largest airline in the world

The first place in the ranking of the largest airlines in the world is occupied by the American airline Delta Airlines, which has been the leader in terms of the number of air passengers transported over the past few years. Delta is also the largest airline in terms of the number of aircraft it operates, of which there are as many as 722 airliners. Most of these are airliners produced by Airbus, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas. Thus, Delta is the world's largest operator of American-made MD88 and MD90 aircraft. Delta Airlines operates both domestic and international flights within the United States, flying to 356 destinations on all continents, excluding Antarctica. The airline's aircraft serve more than 5,000 flights daily, and it currently employs about 75 thousand employees.

I will express my independent opinion about Delta Airlines. I have flown with this airline both international flights (from Moscow to New York) and domestic flights within the USA. I wouldn't say that I was impressed by them: firstly, Delta operates a lot of old aircraft, I noticed that they like to buy second-hand from other airlines. Secondly, I want to say a few unflattering words about the Delta Airlines terminal at New York's J. Kennedy Airport. There they have a complete mess going on, long queues, dirt, chaos, etc., the terminal simply cannot cope with the passenger flow. The good thing is that a new Delta terminal is currently being built at the airport; its construction is scheduled to be completed in 2013. I hope that then the situation will change for the better. By the way, in the photo below you can just see that the construction of a new terminal at JFK Airport is in full swing.



The American low-cost carrier has 706 airliners, ranking 2nd among all airlines in the world according to this indicator. The Southwest Airlines fleet consists exclusively of Boeing-737 aircraft of various years of production and modification, which saves significant amounts on repairs and maintenance of aircraft. This is how low-cost airlines survive. In terms of the number of air passengers carried in recent years, Southwest also shows excellent stability and occupancy of flights, being one of the largest airlines in the world. The main credo of low-cost is.


It is unlikely that anyone was surprised that the three largest airlines in the world are airlines representing the United States of America; I recently wrote in a blog about the level of development of air travel in the States. The whole world (not counting Western Europe) is as far away from American passenger aviation as the Moon, but Europeans are a little closer :-).
As for the American United Airlines, the airline is among the largest in almost all factors. And in some, it is even in the lead, for example, in the number of destinations to which flights are carried out - United Airlines has 371 of them. With 701 airliners at its disposal, United is the third largest airline in the world, second only to its direct competitors Delta and Southwest.

4. Airlines included under the wing of Lufthansa


In addition to Lufthansa itself, these include the European airlines Air Dolomiti, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Germanwings, SWISS and other smaller subsidiaries. This makes the Lufthansa Group airline alliance the largest in Europe. The main hub airports for Lufthansa and its partners are Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt am Main and Munich Airport in Munich. Lufthansa's fleet includes: this moment 292 aircraft, but when combined with partners in the Lufthansa Group, the figure increases to 636 aircraft.

In general, I want to say that I really like this airline. Firstly, thanks to the best, in my opinion, bonus program for accumulating miles: by flying with Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners, you can accumulate miles, which can be spent profitably in the future, for example, by exchanging them for a free air ticket. You can read more about the Lufthansa Miles and More bonus program. Secondly, Lufthansa, in my opinion, conducts flights more often than other European airlines, where you can buy a flight at a very cheap fare. Sales are carried out in various directions, both in Europe and, for example, in Asia, America, etc.

5. American Airlines


As you probably already guessed, American Airlines is the 5th largest airline in the world. The legendary American Airlines, founded back in 1930, has been experiencing serious financial problems in recent decades and is suffering serious losses, losing ground to its more successful competitors Delta and United. AA's fleet consists of 605 aircraft, the lion's share of which are Boeing aircraft.

6.Air France-KLM


The French-Dutch airline holding company Air France and KLM is the second largest in Europe after the Lufthansa Group. The holding was formed in 2004 after the merger of the national carriers of France and the Netherlands, and the airlines' base airports are Paris Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. According to the latest data as of September 2012, the Air France-KLM fleet consists of 614 aircraft: these are mainly aircraft of the European concern Airbus (A319, A320) and Boeing (B737, B777). In 2011, airlines belonging to the Air France-KLM holding carried 75,780,000 air passengers, which is more than 2 times less than, for example, the world's largest airline Delta Airlines (163,838,348 passengers flew with Delta in the same year).


The largest airline in Asia, Chinese China Southern Airlines, is located in 7th position in our rating. And this is not at all accidental, because the Asian market is developing very rapidly, as evidenced by statistics: passenger turnover in the region is inexorably growing from year to year. It is quite possible that in the next 10 years China Southern Airlines will break into the top five largest airlines in the world, displacing a number of European “comrades”. Currently, the Chinese air carrier flies to 121 destinations, operating 368 aircraft, mainly produced by the European concern Airbus (A319, A320, A321).

So we found out and talked about largest airlines in the world.! Come visit often, many more interesting things await you!

The history of the airline dates back to 1926. Its first name is Boeing Air Transport. It was United Airlines that for the first time in the world began to provide passengers with meals and introduced the position of flight attendant on its aircraft. On October 11, 1933, the first terrorist attack in history was committed, the victim of which was an airplane. The Boeing 247 exploded in the sky, killing all 7 people on board.

United Airlines plane

On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two of the company's planes. One of them crashed into the south tower, the second crashed in Pennsylvania. Presumably, the fall occurred due to a struggle for control of the ship.

United Airlines logo

United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago. The fleet consists of 744 aircraft, which transport passengers to 342 destinations. Main hub – international Airport O'Hara. Annual revenue is more than €38 billion.

United Airlines employs 62,000 people. Since 1981, the Mileage Plus bonus program has been in effect for regular customers. The collected miles can be used to order airline tickets, book hotel rooms, rent cars, and purchase various goods.

Read also:

By fleet size

Passenger airlines

Boeing 757 of Delta Air Lines

PlaceAirlineNumber of aircraftNote
1 American Airlines964 116 ordered
2 Delta Air Lines789 108 ordered
3 United Airlines718 50 ordered
4 China Southern Airlines500 127 ordered
5 Southwest Airlines684 69 ordered
6 Ryanair302 63 ordered
7 SkyWest Airlines289 160 ordered
8 Lufthansa283 80 ordered
9 British Airways277 47 ordered
10 Air France256 34 ordered

Cargo airlines

By number of destinations

The table lists all commercial airlines in the world, route network regular transportation which (excluding transportation under code-share agreements) includes more than one hundred destinations.

PlaceAirlineA countryNumber of routes
1 Delta Air LinesUSA355
2 Continental AirlinesUSA351
3 US AirwaysUSA231
4 LufthansaGermany201
5 Air CanadaCanada178
6 Turkish AirlinesTürkiye176
7 Air FranceFrance170
8 British AirwaysGreat Britain165
9 SkyWest AirlinesUSA160
10 American AirlinesUSA157
11 Air BerlinGermany154
12 QantasAustralia150
13 RyanairIreland143
14 AeroflotRussia135
15 Austrian AirlinesAustria130
16 Japan AirlinesJapan125
17 KLMNetherlands125
18 China Southern AirlinesChina121
19 Russia (airline)Russia120
20 Iberia AirlinesSpain118
21 SASSweden, Denmark, Norway116
22 Korean Air 116

By passenger turnover

Airbus A380-800 Emirates

Airbus A340-300 Lufthansa

Airlines by passenger turnover per year (million passenger-kilometers):

PlaceAirline2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 East.
1 American Airlines11346,878 330,323 219,492 216,132 209,321
2 United Airlines12330,184 330,696 334,989 338,833 327,479
3 Delta Air Lines13313,803 310,562 310,228 310,875 304,074
4 Emirates215,353 188,606 160,549 146,205 126,331
5 Southwest Airlines14167,932 165,561 157,044 125,604 119,826
6 Lufthansa15153,334 149,780 141,055 129,668 122,991
7 China Southern Airlines16148,417 135,535 122,344 111,328 93,002
8 Air China17141,967 129,773 123,489 105,695 75,474
9 Air France18139,824 137,606 135,129 127,763 128,326
10 British Airways19131,333 126,436 117,348 106,082 114,346
Notes
  • Including United Express.
  • Including Delta Connection.
  • Including Xiamen Airlines, Shantou Airlines, Zhuhai Airlines, Guizhou Airlines and Chongqing Airlines.
  • Including Shenzhen Airlines (including Kunming Airlines), Air Macau and Dalian Airlines.
  • Including HOP! and Transavia France.
  • Including OpenSkies.

Delta Airlines Delta Air Lines

It is the largest airline in the United States, serving approximately 311 million passengers annually. The history of the company begins in 1924. Starting with air freight for farmers, "delta airlines" grew into an airline tycoon. Currently the company flies to 96 countries and connects airspace all continents (except Antarctica).

The company has at its disposal:

  • several subsidiary aircraft concerns;
  • a network of its own hub airports throughout the United States;
  • a vast number of aircraft.

Delta Airlines mainly uses different Boeing models for flights. The aircraft in the company's fleet are on average 14 years old.

Delta Airlines

Delta has been operating since 1924. It originally existed as a crop pollination company. In 1929, Delta made its first passenger flight to the destination. In 1953 it absorbed Chicago-Southern AirLines, and in 1972 – Northeast Airlines. The first Delta Connection subsidiary was created in 1984. In 1987, a merger took place with Western Airlines, which allowed Delta Air Lines to become one of the five largest airline giants in the world.

Delta Airlines plane

After Pan American's bankruptcy, Delta acquired the rights to major transatlantic routes. Delta provided financial support to Pan American, and under the terms of the contract could use its brand, which was more recognizable in European countries. The company never used this right.

Delta Airlines logo

Delta currently has a fleet of 809 aircraft that fly passengers to 460 destinations. The headquarters is located in Atlanta. The company serves 165 million people annually. Delta's annual turnover is $37.8 billion, net profit is $10.6 billion. The airline employs 80,000 people, including 13,000 pilots.

Aviation alliance SkyTeam

Delta is a co-founder of the airline alliance passenger transportation SkyTeam. In 2008, the company acquired all shares of Northwest Airlines, after which it became the largest commercial air carrier on the planet. Delta consists of regional divisions and subsidiaries, owns two international hubs and seven hubs in the United States. In Delta's history, there have been more than 20 hijacking attempts.

Delta SkyMiles Credit Card

In 1981, the company launched its SkyMiles frequent flyer program, which was quickly hailed as the best rewards program in the business travel industry. Accrued SkyMiles will never expire under any circumstances.

Emirates Airline

Emirates Airline tops our top 10 ranking " best airlines peace." The company was opened in the 80s in Dubai to develop UAE tourism. The Emirates Airline fleet (250 aircraft) is one of the youngest in the world. The average age of transport is 5.6 years.

The airline positions itself as a global carrier, operating regular flights to all continents of the planet. From the Dubai base airport you can fly to 140 cities. Emirates Airline ranks first in the total number of international flights.

Emirates Airline also does not forget about the quality of service. Most aircraft are equipped entertainment centers: you can watch a movie, listen to music, play a game or follow interactive map flight. Passengers with children are also taken care of: babies can watch takeoff and landing through the eyes of a pilot thanks to the Airshow channel, and parents with babies are given an essential kit with hygiene products.

Notes

  1. (English) . Forbes. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  2. 1 2 (English) . American Airlines. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  3. (English) . news.delta.com. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  4. 1 2 (English) . United Continental Holdings. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  5. (English) . Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  6. (English) . Ryanair. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  7. (English) . CEAIR. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  8. (English) . Lufthansa Group. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  9. (English) . LATAM AirlinesGroup. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
  10. (English) . csair.com. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  11. (English) . easyJet plc. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  12. (English) . delta. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  13. (English) . theemiratesgroup.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  14. (English) . 2013 Annual Report. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  15. (English) . Lufthansa Group. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  16. (English) . csair.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  17. (English) . airchina.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  18. (English) . Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  19. (English) . klm.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  20. (English) . iairgroup.com. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  21. (English) .
  22. . February 17, 2012.
  23. . February 17, 2012.
  24. DHL Aviation. February 17, 2012.
  25. URL: Title: Delta Stats and Facts
  26. on the Star Alliance website

Other well-known companies

Sixth place in the list is occupied by a European holding "Air France - KLM". The airline is the brainchild of the national French airline and Dutch airlines. The merger of the companies took place in 2004. Currently, the airline flies to numerous destinations, and flight routes cover more than 90 countries. The main headquarters of the holding are located in Marseille, Amsterdam and Bordeaux. The company's Aeroflot fleet includes more than 250 airliners.

China Southern Airlines plane

In seventh place - "China Southern Airlines"(“China Southern Airlines”), with a passenger turnover of more than 111 million passengers per km. The airline provides flights to countries in Europe, Africa, Australia, North America and New Zealand. The company's aircraft fleet consists of Boeings and Airbuses and has about 325 aircraft.

Airplane " British Airways»

The eighth place is occupied by the national carrier of Great Britain - "British Airways"("British Airways"). The airline's central headquarters and headquarters are located in London. The airline's passenger traffic, according to the latest data, amounted to 106 million passengers per km. British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations around the world. The aircraft fleet includes more than 275 airliners.

We looked at the largest airlines in the world. If you are interested in a specific company, you can find its website. On airline websites you can often find not only general information, but also great deals.

Ryanair

Irish airline Ryanair is one of the largest low-cost airlines. It was founded in 1984. The fleet size is about 400 aircraft. Rainair's hub is Dublin Airport.

In September 2017, the European Commission began an investigation into the cancellation of more than two thousand flights. According to experts, the reason was mass layoffs. Because of this, Ryanair canceled up to 50 flights every day.

Brussels said European passengers whose flights were canceled are entitled to compensation of between 250 and 400 euros. The head of the low-cost airline said that the company's losses due to compensation would amount to about 25 million euros. Experts talk about the amount of 35 million euros.

The company also said that customers will be offered alternative flights, or the money spent on the ticket will be refunded.

Rainair operates passenger services in 34 countries. There are more than 1,800 flights per day.

Ratings according to The West Australian magazine

Since 2013, the Australian research center The West Australian has published a column that publishes the top best and worst airlines. The criteria by which the analysis is carried out are divided into two ratings:

  1. on flight safety
  2. by level of service.

The study is conducted on 435 companies, each of which is rated with a maximum of 7 stars. Each star is assigned for the presence or absence of a certain indicator.

  • Availability of an IOSA certificate - if it exists, 2 stars are awarded immediately;
  • Is the airline on the EU blacklist;
  • Are there any reported deaths in the last 10 years;
  • Availability of FAA permission to fly in the USA;
  • Which ICAO aviation safety criterion is used by the country in which the airline is located?
  1. quality of service on board;
  2. meals during the flight;
  3. interior comfort;
  4. level of operation of baggage services;
  5. ticket price.

The absolute leader in safety and service, according to The West Australian, is the Australian company Qantas. As the editors of the magazine write, over the 95 years of its existence, it has surpassed its competitors and approached the standard of the world of air travel.

10 safest airlines in the world

The magazine has also added a list of dubious or unsafe carriers: Indonesian - Lion Air, Batik Air, Wings Air, Xpress Air, Trans Nusa and African - Bluewing Airline.

Russian Aeroflot received the highest mark for flight safety and an average score for service.

Middle class

Here the passenger can choose both economy and business class. Due to competition, airlines are forced to resort to tricks. For example, virtual reality glasses are included in the price of a 1st class ticket on the Quantas carrier, the ability to listen to pilots’ conversations is free on board United Airlines, and the choice of a travel companion “based on interests” is available to KLM customers.

Business class passengers are treated with increased care: they have their own TV, the seat can be turned into a full-fledged bed, and partitions separate them from neighbors.

The Europeans have gone the furthest in terms of comfort: the menu for “business” of Air France () was developed by Michelin-starred chefs, Swiss () surprises with exclusive varieties of Swiss cheeses, and in the “cabins” of Lufthansa there are air humidifiers.

Airlines of the world

  • Adria Airways
  • Aigle Azur
  • AirBaltic
  • AirOnix
  • Air Armenia
  • Air France
  • Air India
  • Air New Zealand
  • Air One
  • Airberlin
  • Blue Panorama Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific Airways
  • China Airlines
  • Cubana
  • Dragonair
  • Ellinair
  • Eurowings
  • Finnair
  • FlyDubai
  • Gulf Air
  • Icelandair
  • Japan Airlines
  • JetStar Airways
  • Jet Airways
  • Jetblue Airways
  • Metrojet
  • Norwegian Air Shuttle
  • Philippine Airlines
  • Qantas
  • Royal Air Maroc
  • Ryanair
  • Sansa
  • Spring Airlines
  • Swiss
  • Vueling
  • Wizzair
  • easyJet
  • Aurora
  • Austrian Airlines
  • Asiana Airlines
  • Eye Fly
  • Ak Bars Aero
  • Alitalia
  • Alrosa
  • American Airlines
  • Angara
  • Astana
  • Aeroflot
  • Bangkok
  • Belavia
  • British Airways
  • Vim Avia
  • Volga-Dnepr
  • East
  • Vietnam Airlines
  • Gazprom avia
  • globe
  • Delta
  • Donavia
  • Iberia
  • Egyptair
  • IrAero
  • Qatar
  • China Eastern Airlines
  • Kolavia
  • Condor Flygdienst
  • Korean Air
  • KrasAvia
  • Lufthansa
  • Meridian
  • Montenegro
  • Muscovy
  • Motor Sich
  • Nord Wind
  • NordAvia
  • Orenburg Airlines
  • Orenburg region
  • Pegasus
  • Pilot
  • Victory
  • Flight
  • Red Wings
  • Rose of Wind
  • Russia
  • Royal Flight
  • Rusline
  • Cebu Pacific
  • Severstal
  • Tatarstan
  • Tulpar Air
  • Turkish Airlines
  • Turukhan
  • Ural Airlines
  • Air Europe
  • Air Canada
  • Air Malta
  • Air Moldova
  • El Al
  • Emirates
  • Estonian Air
  • Etihad
  • UTair
  • Yakutia

show all

Sky-high secrets: what flight attendants are silent about. An experienced flight attendant tells.

What do flight numbers mean: .

Garuda Indonesia

It's easy to guess from the name that Garuda Indonesia is the national airline of Indonesia. It is part of the SkyTeam alliance. What’s great is that there are a lot of non-stop flights: about forty to domestic destinations and twenty international destinations. The company operates mainly in its region, but also offers flights to other parts of the world.

Its geography covers thirteen countries of the world: Oceania, Asia, the Near and Middle East and Europe. For those who do not want to spend extra, there are special economy flights. One interesting thing is that the airline has entire planes that offer only economy class tickets. The air fleet also includes aircraft with 2 administrative class cabins (analogous to business class) and three-cabin aircraft (economy, administrative, 1st class).

Garuda Indonesia's hub airports are two international airports - Ngurah Rai (in Bali) and Soekarno Hatta (near Jakarta). They have the widest selection of flights in their country; in some destinations there are not even alternatives. Prices are generally above average.

Asian airlines can sometimes be unpunctual, but Garuda is a pleasant exception, and this is very important, especially for business trips. If you are wondering which airlines are best to fly in this region, you can safely choose the Indonesian option. You will receive wonderful service, delicious food, fast check-in, the best perfectly polite staff and a movie on the road.

Low-cost airlines

Once upon a time, they laughed at the passengers of these flights: they couldn’t take their luggage and they couldn’t get food. Today, yesterday’s spiteful critics themselves willingly choose low-cost airlines: after all, with them you can save up to several tens of thousands of rubles. You just need to purchase tickets in advance or during promotions. And do not take paid options: choosing a seat or issuing a ticket at the airport.

For those in doubt: cheap does not mean unreliable. The world's low-cost airlines fly without incident, and their fleet is new. Segment leaders: Flydubai (), Vueling (), Ryanair (), Air Asia and others.

The safest low-cost airline is the Australian Virgin Australia. His name almost never appears in emergency reports.

Previous photo 1/ 1 Next photo


Rating of airlines by number of destinations

The leadership in the list again remained with three American companies. But this time the first place was taken by Delta Air Lines, which flies to 355 destinations.

Continental Airlines took second place with a slight lag. US Airlines rounded out the top three.

The Russian Aeroflot is in 14th place. 19th place was taken by another company from Russian Federation- "Russia". Also in the ranking there was a place for Japan Airlines, which took 16th place, but was located above other Asian companies.

By number of passengers transported

Airbus A330-200 Delta Air Lines

Boeing 747-400 United Airlines

Airlines by number of passengers transported per year (million people):

PlaceAirline2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 East.
1 American Airlines3 193.7 107.8 107.2 105.2 104.5
2 Delta Air Lines4 164.6 164.6 163.8 162.6 161.1
3 United Airlines5 139.2 140.4 141.8 145.6 81.4
4 Southwest Airlines6 133.1 133.9 135.2 106.2 101.3
5 Ryanair86.4 81.4 79.3 75.8 72.1 66.5
6 China Eastern Airlines7 79.1 73.1 68.7 64.9 44.0
7 Lufthansa877.5 76.3 74.7 65.5 58.9 55.6
8 LATAM Airlines9 66.7 65.0 19.7 17.3 15.4
9 China Southern Airlines 64.5 61.8 58.7 57.7 49.4
10 easyJet1065.3 61.3 59.2 55.5 49.7 46.1
Notes
  • Including American Eagle. Data after 2013 include US Airways performance.
  • Including Delta Connection.
  • Including United Express. Data after 2010 include Continental Airlines performance.
  • Data after 2011 include AirTran Airways performance.
  • Including Shanghai Airlines and China United Airlines.
  • Including Lufthansa Regional and Germanwings.
  • Including LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines.
  • Including.

Rating of the best airlines in the world

UK consulting company Skytrax compiled this rating. The award was presented at the Farnborough Air Show on July 12. This is the rating for 2016.

In first place is Emirates. Despite the fact that the company does not have such a long history (it was founded only in 1985), but managed to gain popularity all over the world.

At first, she had only two leased planes - one Boeing and one Airbus. Today she has already 253 aircraft that fly to all continents.

Flight attendants and stewards in front of an Emirates aircraft.

Second place Qatar Airways, which in 2015 was at the first place. National company of the state of Qatar with a central office in the capital of the country - Doha.

It is founded in 1993 and quickly gained significant weight in world aviation. The company's fleet numbers 192 aircraft, including cargo ships.

Flight attendants from Qatar Airways.

In third place - Singapore Airlines. The company was founded in 1947 and was originally called Malayan Airways.

However, with Singapore's independence, it was renamed Singapore Airlines. The company's fleet is not as large as the first two - only 108 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines plane.

Cathay Pacific located on fourth place. This is a Hong Kong company that has quite an interesting history.

Founded in 1946 American and Australian, it operated flights only in Asia and then spread throughout the world. The word “Cathay” is a medieval name for China, and “Pacific” means that the company's planes fly across the Pacific Ocean.

Cathay Pacific aircraft.

Fifth place the Japanese company deservedly took the ANA All Nippon Airways. Such a long and complex name is explained by the fact that it was formed by the merger of two airlines - Nippon Helicopter and ANA (Far Eastern Airlines).

Until 1986 all flights operated by the company were domestic only. After this, the company moved to the international level and now operates flights to more than than 22 countries.

ANA All Nippon Airways aircraft.

In sixth place another UAE company - Etihad Airways . This fastest growing airline in commercial aviation history.

Educated in 2003, it already counts almost 120 destinations with an air fleet in 117 aircraft. She won in as many as three categories, regarding first class - best places, food and service.

First class on an Etihad Airways plane.

Turkish Airlines took only seventh place. It is one of the oldest airlines in the world - founded in 1933. A the first flight to another country was carried out already in 1947, V.

During from 2012 to 2016 it is one of the top ten airlines. Total served almost 220 destinations in more than 108 countries.

Turkish Airlines planes.

Eva Air is in eighth place. This Taiwan airline. It operates both passenger and cargo flights.

She has only 72 aircraft in the fleet, but they ship to many countries in Asia, North America, Europe and Australia. This largest Taiwanese company, after China Airlines, of course.

Eva Air aircraft.

Qantas Airways took ninth place. This company is also called “Flying Kangaroo”, as it is the national carrier of Australia. This the oldest airline in the entire English-speaking world.

It was founded back in 1920, that is, back at the dawn of world aviation. The company now has 123 aircraft that fly in more than 85 destinations.

Qantas Airways aircraft.

In last place is located Lufthansa. This Europe's largest airline with subsidiaries Swiss Airlines and Austrian Airlines.

She started her activity in 1926 and stopped it during the Second World War and until 1951, for collaboration with the Nazis. Now the company has in its fleet almost 283 aircraft.

Lufthansa aircraft.

Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines aircraft began flying in 1947, and in the last decade they have become leaders in airliner comfort and quality of passenger service.

The aircraft fleet is small, only 108 aircraft, but their cabins are equipped last word equipment, providing customers with convenient and comfortable in-flight conditions.

It’s hard to imagine modern aviation without comfortable airbuses capable of making long flights, covering thousands of kilometers.

Always, and especially in recent years, airlines pay great attention to the safety and comfort of passengers in flight, providing more and more new services. . Author of the article: Valery Skiba

Five-star airlines of the world

The British company Skytrax assigned this level to only 10 carriers: Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, Etihad Airways, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Lufthansa, Nippon Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines.

On board their planes - all the luxury and deluxe: bed linen from famous designers, lobster and wine lists, delivery to the ramp by car and exceptional attention from the flight attendants.

By the way, the famous Emirates airlines were not included in the rating, despite the fact that they also have showers and minibars on board.

None of the “five-star” companies was included in the top ten most punctual at the end of 2017, but almost all operate aircraft no older than 10 years.

Rating of the world's largest airlines

Of course, not one, but several ratings have been compiled here, according to airline financial performance, passenger turnover, fleet size and cargo turnover.

Here the American company is the leader in all respects - American Airlines. It is also the largest airline in the United States. Founded in 1926, it has a long and successful history.

Of course, the September 11 terrorist attacks significantly damaged its reputation and almost brought it to bankruptcy. But then, like a phoenix from the ashes, it rose and is now once again the world's leading airline.

American Airlines aircraft interior.

Second and third places are also occupied by US companies - United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Both of them are also based back in the twenties of the last century. Their fleets reach up to 700 and 800 aircraft each.

Years of experience and the ability to adapt to rapidly changing market conditions allow them to remain among the leading airlines.

Delta Air Lines aircraft.

But in general, The top ten included such large airlines as Air France, KLM, Emirates, Lufthansa, Air China etc.

Aeroflot aircraft.

As for Russian airlines, then Aeroflot took only 17th place in the ranking of companies by number of destinations. She carries out transportation in 122 points.

Ryanair aircraft cabin.

Ryanair is the leader among low-cost airlines. It ranks 13th among airlines in terms of the number of destinations, 6th in the number of aircraft and 5th in passenger turnover.

An expert view from Switzerland

According to experts from the Swiss agency ATRA, relying on a historical summary of aircraft accident rates is not entirely correct. In fact, any air transport is subject to external factors and it happens that the chances of survival of passengers largely depend on the qualifications of the pilot. Therefore, one of the criteria for calculating the safety factor of the ATRA rating is the level of training of pilots and controllers.

After a lengthy analysis of air incidents and accidents, ATRA has identified 15 main flight safety criteria:

  • Financial position of the company;
  • Passenger seat occupancy rate;
  • Number of employees on board and pilots;
  • The total number of kilometers traveled by the aircraft;
  • Number of vessels in operation and out of production;
  • Average age of operational aircraft;
  • Constituent air fleet (Airbus or Boeing);
  • Number of aircraft at risk;
  • Number of accidents over the past 10 years.

The calculation data is based on information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the aerospace magazine Flight Global.

For its consideration, ATRA selected 94 of the largest airlines by financial income. Of these, the first in the rating and the most reliable were Asian Air China, China Southern Airlines Group, American - AMR Corporation, Delta Air Line, Southwest Airlines, United Continental Holdings, US Airways Group, European - Air France KLM Group and International Airlines Group (statistics 2014).

TOP budget flight safety companies from the aviation portal Airline Ratings

The portal is assessed using a seven-star system. Each star is assigned for certain indicators, such as the number and nature of incidents, the quality of staff and service.

449 airlines take part in the rating. After the stars are set, Airline Ratings makes the top best and worst air carriers. The resulting list of the safest companies in the world is not much different from the opinion of the German JACDEC and other experts.

But the top budget companies (low-cost airlines) will definitely please future passengers. So, we present to you the winners of the nomination:

The top unsafe carriers in 2018 included companies from Indonesia, Nepal and Suriname. They received 1 or 0 stars:

Batik AirSrivijaya Air
Bluewing AirlinesTrans Nusa
CitilinkTrigana Air Service
Kal-Star AviationWings Air
Lion AirXpres Air

TOP 4 safest Russian airlines

More than 70 Russian airlines Every day it flies across Russia and from the country to other parts of the world. The rating of the safest airlines in Russia was topped by the four largest airlines, which can boast of a minimal number of accidents in their entire history.

The TOP 4 in terms of safety included:

  • Ural Airlines - since the creation of the large holding, only three minor incidents have occurred. Experienced pilots quickly responded to problems and carried out forced landings, thanks to which all emergency incidents were without casualties;
  • Aeroflot ranks second in the list of the safest airlines in Russia. Since the company was founded, only 4 accidents have occurred. The most notorious plane crash caused by a Russian pilot, which killed 75 passengers, occurred in 1994. Because of this, at one time the air carrier topped the rating of “The Most Dangerous Airlines in Russia.” After this, the company tightened control over flights;
  • “S7” - during the existence of the airline, which was previously called “Sibir”, three plane crashes occurred. Despite high level reliability of the company and a small number of incidents, they are remembered for the large number of victims;

Airbus A321 airliner belonging to the S7 airline fleet

  • UTAIR carries out not only passenger flights, but also cargo and helicopter flights. During all this time, aircraft crashed 8 times, and the total number of victims was 80 people.

Interesting fact. Before TransAero airline went bankrupt, it was the one that topped the rating of the safest airlines in Russia. After the closure of the holding, Ural Airlines took the leading position.

Air France

This is an entire holding that unites a number of French and Dutch airlines. In 2004, the national carriers of the Netherlands and France merged to form Air France. The company's hubs are located in Paris (Charles de Gaulle Airport) and in Sripol). Today Air France operates 614 aircraft. The basis is made up of Boeing and Airbus airliners.

To those who care about environment, this carrier is the most suitable, since the tanks of the company's aircraft are half filled with biofuel. Route network Air France has 243 destinations and serves 103 countries.

It is very interesting to watch how society develops and evolves with all the ensuing consequences. For example, several centuries ago no one would have thought that a person could fly. But I could. And now it's very hard to imagine modern world no air travel. This kind transport communication allows you to cover huge distances in a relatively short period of time. In order for people to travel, the world's infrastructure requires the existence of airlines. These companies are responsible for organizing aviation work and various types of air transport. Let's look at a few giants and find out which is the largest airline in the world.

American Airlines plane

Appearance of the first official airline happened in the last century. The prototype of modern air carriers was an organization that owned a fleet of several airships. Back in 1909, airplanes were not yet such a reliable means of transportation through the air.

10 years later, the world's first airline in the modern sense of the word was founded in Holland. The airline's first route was a flight from the capital of the Netherlands to the capital of Great Britain. Flight Amsterdam - London is the oldest existing air service. 5 years later, the longest flight was the Amsterdam-Jakarta flight. Another 10 years later, passenger flights across the Atlantic became possible. And 15 years later the first flight to Australia took place. After this, the development of the air transportation industry took leaps and bounds.

Now there are a lot of airlines in the world that differ in scale, localization, internal policies and passenger traffic. Moreover, in almost every country you can find several operating airlines. Demand creates supply. The tendency to explore new countries and cultures is growing stronger every year.

Indeed, the travel and tourism industry is developing at breakneck speed. There are several million air flights in the world every year. Therefore, a large number of companies carrying out air transportation is completely justified. Some of these companies are in great demand, and some are not very popular.

In this article we will look at the largest airlines in the world according to Forbes magazine and their brief characteristics.

Delta Airlines plane

"Delta Air Lines"

It is the largest airline in the United States, serving approximately 311 million passengers annually. The history of the company begins in 1924. Starting with air freight for farmers, Delta Airlines grew into an airline tycoon. At the moment, the company flies to 96 countries and connects all continents (except Antarctica) by airspace.

The company has at its disposal:

  • several subsidiary aircraft concerns;
  • a network of its own hub airports throughout the United States;
  • a vast number of aircraft.

Delta Airlines mainly uses different Boeing models for flights. The aircraft in the company's fleet are on average 14 years old.

"American Airlines"

Another American airline that is included in the list of the largest airlines in the world is "American Airlines"("American Airlines"). The following is known about her:

  1. The company's passenger turnover is approximately 202 million passengers per km.
  2. It is the leader in air transportation between the United States and Latin American countries.
  3. The company's fleet consists of about 615 aircraft, most of which are McDonnell Douglas aircraft.

American Airlines is notorious for the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, that took place on its flights.

United Airlines plane

United Airlines and others

Third place in the list of the world's largest air carriers is occupied by another American airline - United Airlines("United Airlines"). The company's estimated passenger turnover is 165 million passengers per km. The company's Aeroflot fleet consists of 360 aircraft. United Airlines serves more than two hundred different destinations. Both in the USA and in other countries. The company's main airport is in Chicago.

Emirates plane

In fourth place on the list is the UAE airline - Emirates(“Emirates”) The airline's headquarters, as well as its main hub, are located in Dubai. The company's passenger turnover is just over 146 million passengers per km. Emirates operates scheduled flights to countries in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. The company's Aeroflot fleet consists of 150 aircraft - Airbuses and Boeings.

Lufthansa plane

In fifth place is a German airline Lufthansa(Lufthansa). The company's passenger turnover is more than 129 million passengers per km. Lufthansa provides air transportation all over the world. This is facilitated by a developed network of branches in most countries. The company's main headquarters are located in Munich and Frankfurt. The company sends flights to dozens of countries every day. The company's fleet includes more than 265 aircraft - Boeings and Airbuses.

Logo "Air France - KLM"

Other well-known companies

Sixth place in the list is occupied by a European holding "Air France - KLM". The airline is the brainchild of the national French airline and Dutch airlines. The merger of the companies took place in 2004. Currently, the airline flies to numerous destinations, and flight routes cover more than 90 countries. The main headquarters of the holding are located in Marseille, Amsterdam and Bordeaux. The company's Aeroflot fleet includes more than 250 airliners.

China Southern Airlines plane

In seventh place - "China Southern Airlines"(“China Southern Airlines”), with a passenger turnover of more than 111 million passengers per km. The airline provides flights to countries in Europe, Africa, Australia, North America and New Zealand. The company's aircraft fleet consists of Boeings and Airbuses and has about 325 aircraft.

British Airways plane

The eighth place is occupied by the national carrier of Great Britain - "British Airways"("British Airways"). The airline's central headquarters and headquarters are located in London. The airline's passenger traffic, according to the latest data, amounted to 106 million passengers per km. British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations around the world. The aircraft fleet includes more than 275 airliners.

We looked at the largest airlines in the world. If you are interested in a specific company, you can find its website. On airline websites you can often find not only general information, but also great deals.

In contact with

International airlines never tire of improving their service, trying to win first positions. The “best of the best” impress passengers with many things: chairs with massagers, menus from chefs, the ability to check the weather from robots, and even babysitting services for children. Qatar Airways is renowned for its excellent business class and first class lounge. Among European air carriers, Lufthansa stands out. And the main thing is that each airline has its own “face” and its own philosophy. In this review we have collected the top 10.

10. Garuda Indonesia

Garuda Indonesia, which has been operating since 1947, opens the ranking of the best airlines in the world. Unusual name associated with the mythical bird of the god Vishnu - Garuda (symbol of Indonesia). The airline carries passengers to 12 countries. Customers note the high level of cleanliness and friendly service. The headquarters of the Indonesian airline is located at the capital's Soekarno-Hatta Airport. There are private waiting rooms where you can have a snack and connect to the Internet.

Lufthansa is the national carrier of Germany and one of the largest and best airlines in the world. It has been operating since 1926 and owns the world's second largest aircraft fleet, consisting of 700 aircraft. The airline’s network of routes is also quite wide - 410 points to which flights are carried out (Europe, Asia, Africa, America).

Customers can use one of three classes: first, business and economy. There are a number of promotions and additional services. For corporate clients– “Star Alliance Company Plus”, for private passengers – “Star Alliance”. The merits of Lufthansa were noted in 1997 by inviting it to the prestigious airline alliance StarAlliance.

Qantas Airways is one of the best airlines in Australia, nicknamed the “Flying Kangaroo”. It is one of the oldest in the world (founded in the 20s), second only to KLM and Avianca. Qantas Airways' activities began with air transportation. Today the company is based in Sydney and is the second largest airline in Australia (ahead of KLM). The average age of aircraft is 10 years. The route goes to 140 cities. Qantas Airways is considered one of the safest airlines in the world. The aircraft are equipped with video and audio systems for customer entertainment. An interesting service for passengers is the opportunity to try a dish from the country they are traveling to.

EVA Air is a Taiwanese airline established in the 80s. Located at Tai'an Taoyuan Airport, it operates domestic and international flights. EVA Air's destinations include Asia, Europe, North Africa and Australia (about 70 destinations). It is the second largest airline in Taiwan.

EVA Air has implemented robotic customer service at Taoyuan and Songshan airports. Robot Robert, after scanning the ticket, can communicate with the client - provide information about the departure, weather, promotions and company bonuses. You can dance with the robot, take photos together, or play games. It is also interesting that on some planes, airline employees fly in liveries with images of cartoon characters. For example, Hello Kitty.

EVA Air aircraft offer 3 classes of service: economy, premium economy and business. It is worth noting flight safety - EVA Air aircraft were not involved in major aircraft accidents.

One of the most popular airlines in the world, Turkish Airlines, began operating in 1933 and is based in Istanbul. At first it was a national carrier, but today 49% of the shares belong to the state and 51% to private owners. There are two service options to choose from: economy and business. The geography of routes covers 220 foreign airports in Europe, America, Asia and Africa (80 countries in total). The company has the youngest fleet of aircraft - on average 3.5 years old. During the flight, passengers are offered snacks, Turkish meze and dessert. Turkish Airlines is focused on medium-haul flights.

5. Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is in the middle of the world airline rankings. This is a national company of the UAE, operating since 2003. It was created by decree of the sheikh. The headquarters is located in Abu Dhabi. In just 5 years of existence, Etihad Airways has increased the number of passengers by 6 million. It is the fastest growing airline in the world, which was facilitated by the Skytrax award: in 2016, the air carrier was awarded for the quality of first class (including in-flight meals and seats).

The name Etihad Airways means "union", implying the relationship between passengers and the airline. The Arab understanding of luxury is reflected in comfort during travel: in first class there is a two-meter chair-bed and a chef, in economy there is a touch screen and three dishes to choose from. During long trips, you are provided with an amenity kit (socks, toothpaste and brush, earplugs, sleep mask). Passengers with children can order babysitting services.

4. Cathay Pacific

Hong Kong airline flying to 51 countries (200 routes) in Asia, Africa, New Zealand and Australia. Cathay Pacific is one of only six airlines to be highly rated by Skytrax (5 stars). The airline has been operating since 1946 - it was opened former pilots Air Force, American and Australian. Cathay Pacific was initially based in Shanghai, then moved to Hong Kong. The air fleet includes more than 90 aircraft (average age - 10 years). Entertainment for passengers includes cinema, music, magazines, and an airline boutique. On long flights, passengers are offered a night kit.

Singapore Airlines opens the top three airlines in the world. It has been operating since 1947 and provides flight services to 35 countries (more than 60 cities). Changi Airport (Singapore) is the base airport. If a passenger transits through it, he will be offered a free two-hour tour. Singapore Airlines Airlines is guided by the philosophy: the passenger should receive the maximum comfortable stay aboard. Even economy class passengers will appreciate the high level of comfort during the flight: plenty of legroom, multimedia, monitors. You can use the Internet or watch a movie. The airline has more than a hundred aircraft in its fleet, but not a single aircraft has been in operation for more than five years.

Qatar Airways is ranked 2nd in the list of the best airlines in the world. It is the national airline of Qatar and is headquartered in Doha. Flights are carried out to five continents - more than 130 destinations (all international). The average age of aircraft is 5 years. In 2017, Qatar Airways launched the world's longest flight, from Qatar to New Zealand.

According to the rating of the British resource Skytrax, Qatar Airways is a 5-star airline. Passengers are seated on wide seats with a massage function. Each person has their own blanket, pillow and headphones. There is an entertainment center with the ability to watch movies, listen to music and use the Internet.

Qatar Airways customers note the variety of the menu: rice, stewed vegetables, salads, sandwiches. Transit passengers are offered to spend time not at the airport, but in a hotel - the airline helps to obtain a temporary visa and provides a transfer (the service may be paid or free).

Emirates Airline tops our top 10 “best airlines in the world” ranking. The company was opened in the 80s in Dubai to develop UAE tourism. The Emirates Airline fleet (250 aircraft) is one of the youngest in the world. The average age of transport is 5.6 years.

The airline positions itself as a global carrier, operating regular flights to all continents of the planet. From the Dubai base airport you can fly to 140 cities. Emirates Airline ranks first in the total number of international flights.

Emirates Airline also does not forget about the quality of service. Most aircraft are equipped with entertainment centers: you can watch a movie, listen to music, play a game or follow an interactive flight map. Passengers with children are also taken care of: babies can watch takeoff and landing through the eyes of a pilot thanks to the Airshow channel, and parents with babies are given an essential kit with hygiene products.

The largest airlines in the world are determined not only by financial indicators, but by the number of passengers and cargo transported, the level of passenger and cargo turnover, the total number of destinations and the size of the fleet. Below are the 5 richest airline travel companies.

1. American Airlines (American or AA)

The world leader among airlines in terms of financial performance, passenger turnover, fleet size and number of passengers carried is American Airlines Group, an American airline founded in 1930. The headquarters is located in Fort Worth. The company has 8 hubs and operates flights within the United States of America, Europe, India, Latin America, China, Canada, Japan, Caribbean Islands.

American Airlines was formed as a result of the merger of 82 air carriers. Its fleet consisted of wooden Fokker Trimotor ships, metal Ford Trimotor aircraft and Curtiss Condor sleeper biplanes.

The airline carried its millionth passenger in 1937. During World War II, part of the fleet was used for military purposes. American Airlines was one of the first to use jet aircraft. In April 2001, AA and Trans World Airlines merged.

On September 11, 2001, two of the company's airliners were hijacked during terrorist attacks. Boeing 767-200 flew into north tower, and the Boeing 757-200 - to the Pentagon building. All crew members and passengers were killed. Until 2005, the company was on the verge of bankruptcy. It was brought out of the crisis by its new manager, Edward Brenan.


US Airways joined AA in March 2014. The company's fleet increased to 964 units. According to Forbes, AA's revenue for 2014 amounted to $42.7 billion, net income - $2.9 billion. During the year, the company transported 193.7 million people. The level of passenger turnover is 348 million passenger-kilometers. The company has 94,400 employees.

2. Emirates

Emirates' history began in 1985 with two leased aircraft. The company was created by the leadership of Dubai with the aim of developing tourism in United Arab Emirates. In May 2017, the Emirates fleet consisted of 260 aircraft, of which 140 were Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline's revenue is $23.2 billion, net profit is $1.9 billion, and the number of passengers carried is 51.9 million people per year.


The route network covers 160 points. More than 5,000 flights are carried out monthly to all continents of the planet. On average, 6,000 tons of cargo are transported per day. For several years, Emirates maintained its status as the largest international air carrier. The company is owned by the state.


Emirates is active in social activities. The company sponsors various sports competitions, does charity work, helps sick children, and supports nature reserves in Dubai and Sydney.

3. Lufthansa

Lufthansa is a German company that is the largest airline company in Europe. The air fleet consists of 620 aircraft. Turnover in 2016 was €31.66 billion, operating income was €2.28 billion, net income was €1.78 billion.


Lufthansa employs 123,287 people. The headquarters is located in Cologne. Flights are carried out to 410 points.

Lufthansa emerged in 1926 as a result of the merger of the transport company Deutsche Aero Lloyd and the Junkers Luftverkehr concern. Initially, the airline's fleet consisted of 162 aircraft of 18 types.


Lufthansa's air traffic quickly reached record levels, but in 1939 the entire fleet was mobilized for military purposes. For its collaboration with the Nazi government at the end of the war, the company was blacklisted and ceased all commercial operations. In 1955, Lufthansa resumed operations.

4. Delta Airlines

Delta has been operating since 1924. It originally existed as a crop pollination company. In 1929, Delta made its first passenger flight to the destination. In 1953 it absorbed Chicago-Southern AirLines, and in 1972 - Northeast Airlines. The first Delta Connection subsidiary was created in 1984. In 1987, a merger took place with Western Airlines, which allowed Delta Air Lines to become one of the five largest airline giants in the world.


After Pan American's bankruptcy, Delta acquired the rights to major transatlantic routes. Delta provided financial support to Pan American, and under the terms of the contract could use its brand, which was more recognizable in European countries. The company never used this right.


Delta currently has a fleet of 809 aircraft that fly passengers to 460 destinations. The headquarters is located in Atlanta. The company serves 165 million people annually. Delta's annual turnover is $37.8 billion, net profit is $10.6 billion. The airline employs 80,000 people, including 13,000 pilots.


Delta is a co-founder of the airline passenger transportation alliance SkyTeam. In 2008, the company acquired all shares of Northwest Airlines, after which it became the largest commercial air carrier on the planet. Delta consists of regional divisions and subsidiaries, owns two international hubs and seven hubs in the United States. In Delta's history, there have been more than 20 hijacking attempts.


In 1981, the company launched its SkyMiles frequent flyer program, which was quickly hailed as the best rewards program in the business travel industry. Accrued SkyMiles will never expire under any circumstances.

5. United Airlines

The history of the airline dates back to 1926. Its first name is Boeing Air Transport. It was United Airlines that for the first time in the world began to provide passengers with meals and introduced the position of flight attendant on its aircraft. On October 11, 1933, the first terrorist attack in history was committed, the victim of which was an airplane. The Boeing 247 exploded in the sky, killing all 7 people on board.


On September 11, 2001, terrorists hijacked two of the company's planes. One of them crashed into the south tower, the second crashed in Pennsylvania. Presumably, the fall occurred due to a struggle for control of the ship.


United Airlines is headquartered in Chicago. The fleet consists of 744 aircraft, which transport passengers to 342 destinations. The main hub is O'Hare International Airport. Annual revenue is more than €38 billion.

United Airlines employs 62,000 people. Since 1981, the Mileage Plus bonus program has been in effect for regular customers. The collected miles can be used to order airline tickets, book hotel rooms, rent cars, and purchase various goods.

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