World's largest fleets: here are the companies with the most planes in 2023

After the pandemic, when airlines chose to "ground" or dispose of many planes (especially older and larger ones such as A380s) the world of air transport has returned to growth and racking up orders for new aircraft.

Renewed growth

Partly out of a need for newfound capacity, partly out of a need to rejuvenate the fleet; the two construction biggies Boeing and Airbus found themselves with a large amount of orders and struggling to meet deliveries (partly due to the crisis in supply chains, ed.).

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Meanwhile, something new happened: after 27 years, a young airline with just 2 A321LR aircraft in its fleet - La Compagnie - has won the Travel & Leisure Awards as the world's best carrier, undermining Singapore Airlines (a historic Asian aviation giant founded in 1972 that has nearly 150 aircraft in its fleet).

U.S. dominance

But what are to date the largest airlines by number Of aircraft in the fleet? At first glance, scaling the top 15 positions of carriers with the most aircraft, the dominance of the 4 US biggies (the three sisters Delta, American, and United plus Southwest) dominating the 75% in the U.S. market. They are followed by the European carriers and Chinese, which, however, remain far apart in terms of numbers.

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To compile the ranking, we consulted various sources and considered European carriers as large Agglomerate Groups: Lufthansa Group includes Swiss, Austrian, Eurowings and Brussels, Iag includes British, Vueling, Iberia and Aer Lingus; as well as Air France-Klm includes Transavia and its various subsidiaries.

The data are updated to May 2023 and are considered all aircraft currently in the fleet, including those that are currently parked in hangars, in overhaul status, or non-operational (which are generally a small percentage of the total).

The world top 5

It is almost all stars and stripes in the list of the top five carriers in the world by aircraft numbers. Leading the ranking is American Airlines with 1,218 aircraft in fleet. Almost 80% of this is narrow body (single-aisle) aircraft since more than half of the flights operated by AA (oneworld alliance) are domestic routes.

In second place is Delta Air Lines (Skyteam alliance) -- topping the list as the airline by largest revenue -- trailing American with 1,035 aircraft . American's other big sister, United Airlines (Star Alliance) comes in third place with 890 aircraft.

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Also made in the U.S. (Texas, to be precise) is the fourth airline: Southwest Airlines has a fleet of 793 exclusively Boeing 737 aircraft (with the various types-770, -800, MAX 7, MAX 8). The top three carriers, on the other hand, have a fleet that mixes Boeing and Airbus.

In fifth place appears the first European giant - Lufthansa Group - reaching 710 aircraft including all airlines (Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings) excluding Air Dolomiti.

With the likely entry of Ita Airways (the tricolor carrier currently has just over 50 aircraft) and the expansion plan that should reach 100 aircraft within a couple of years; the German group could aim to overtake Southwest.

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Chinese and Europeans in the top ten

The stop of the pandemic has influenced the expansionist policies of Chinese airlines, but for the past few months between revival of domestic flights and reopening of international flights, Chinese carriers are back in the limelight.

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In fact, in sixth place in the ranking is. China Eastern Airlines with 611 aircraft, paired with China Southern Airlines which has 604 aircraft in its fleet.

In eighth and ninth place is room for the other major European groups: the Iag holding company controls 558 aircraft divided among British Airways, Iberia, Vueling, Level and Aer Lingus airlines. If over the next few months Air Europa will join the Iag Group; the holding company will receive a dowry of about 50 aircraft, bringing it closer to the Chinese pair.

Next is the Franco-Dutch giant Air France-Klm that reaches 522 aircraft in the fleet. In 10th place still a European. Ryanair Holding Group (which also includes Malta Air and Buzz) has a 512-aircraft fleet all consisting of Boeing 737 aircraft.

Air China to Qatar Airways

The last five positions in the top 15; finally, are a mix of Asia, Euopa and the Americas. At position number 11, in fact, there is the state-owned company Air China With 480 aircraft in the fleet.

Follows Turkish Airlines, which boasts of covering the most destinations in the world with its 338 aircraft. In thirteenth place is the other European low-cost carrier, easyJet, with 300 aircraft.

Closing the rankings are. JetBlue which controls 281 aircraft, tailed by Latam Airlines to 273 aircraft in the fleet.

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