Travel is always a foretaste of something new, unforgettable. And for everything to go great from start to finish, you should think through all the details. The most popular mode of transport for traveling abroad is by plane. Therefore, it is better to study the possibilities of certain airlines in advance. What are the largest airlines in the world? A list of them with a description will be presented in descending order.
Delta Airlines is the world leader in passenger transportation
By all criteria, Delta is the largest airline in the world. It has more than 1,300 aircraft in its arsenal. The airline has its own route network in 356 destinations and operates flights to 65 countries. At the beginning of its existence (founded on May 30, 1924), the company was called Huff Daland Dusters. Then her planes were used to spray pesticides over cotton fields in the southern United States. In 1928, the airline was renamed Delta Air Service. And already in 1929, the first passenger plane was sent from Dallas to Jackson.
Today, the largest airline in the world, Delta Airlines, is the undisputed leader in terms of the number of passenger traffic, as well as the number of passenger aircraft in operation, the main manufacturers of which are Boeing and Airbus. Every day, the airline's aircraft carry out about 5,000 flights. The company has 75,000 qualified employees.
American Airlines USA
Despite the financial difficulties that the company experienced in the recent past, it is still in the TOP of the largest airlines in the world. The company employs more than 100 thousand people. Every day, about 7,000 flights are made on route routes to 350 cities. The airline operates flights to 56 countries around the world. American Airlines and 5 other airline leaders form Oneworld alliance.
The carrier's fleet includes 125 Airbus-A319-100 aircraft, 55 Airbus-A320-200 aircraft, 178 Airbus-A321-200 aircraft, 15 Airbus-A330-200 aircraft, 9 aircraft Airbus A330-300, 266 Boeing 737s, 64 Boeing 757s, 46 Boeing 767s, 67 Boeing 777s, 45 MD-82s and 52 MD-83s.
Southwest Airlines USA
Southwest Airlines is the undisputed leader in terms of the number of passengers carried. This is the largest low-costall over the world. The company's fleet has an impressive number of Boeing 737 aircraft and operates more than 3,000 flights per day. Southwest Airlines planes mainly fly between major US cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Orlando and Phoenix. The main advantage is that the prices for the flight are relatively low, but the quality is at a high level. Cheap flights within the US is the motto of Southwest Airlines.
Emirates Airlines - monopoly of UAE flights
This is a state-owned company based at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The development of Emirates Airlines began with the lease of two airliners in 1985. For three years, the airline's profits began to increase rapidly, which made it possible to quickly develop the route network and equip the fleet with the most modern ships. Today, the company's route network includes 450 cities in 60 countries.
The company's fleet consists of 230 Airbus A330, A340, A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft.
United Airlines USA
This is the largest airline in the world by number of aircraft. It has 695 airliners at its disposal, which regularly carry out international passenger flights. The company has 569 aircraft for domestic flights. The airline's route network connects the countries of Western Europe, Africa and Australia. United Airlines has bases in Chicago, San Francisco, Guam, Tokyo, Denver, Los Angeles and Washington. basisThe company's air fleet consists of Boeing 737s and 757s. There are also Airbus-type airliners. The most popular are flights to major cities in China and Hawaii. Russia and Eastern Europe are not included in the list of served countries.
Lufthansa is Europe's largest airline
European airline began its existence back in 1926. However, it was only in the 60s that it began to gain momentum and became one of the largest among air carriers.
Today, the airline, together with a number of European carriers, forms the Lufthansa Group. The main hubs of the company are located in Germany. The Lufthansa Group has a fleet of 636 aircraft. For passengers, this is one of the most profitable airlines. Its partners can participate in generous bonus programs. The company also constantly holds promotions and ticket sales in various directions.
Air France
This is a whole holding uniting 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 Amsterdam (Sripol Airport). Air France currently operates 614 aircraft. The basis is the airliners of the concern "Boeing" and "Airbus".
For those who care about the environment, this carrier is the most suitable, as the company's aircraft tanks are half filled with biofuel. RouteAir France has a network of 243 destinations serving 103 countries.
British Airways
British Airways is the UK's largest carrier based at Heathrow Airport in London. Currently, the company's air fleet consists of 400 aircraft. The annual turnover of passenger traffic is 62 million passengers per year. The route network has more than 200 destinations.
The airline has its own developed bonus system, which is used by regular customers. Each flight en titles you to earn miles and points, which can then be redeemed for air tickets.
This is not a complete list of the largest airlines. Each country has its own leaders in air travel. However, not all of them are international. In addition, this list may change every year, as some companies can develop, while others suffer some difficulties and lose their leading positions. Therefore, it is not so easy to say which is the largest airline in the world. The analysis affects many indicators, such as the number of aircraft, the annual volume of traffic, the availability of service centers, etc. However, for passengers, in addition to this information, the reliability of the company, as well as various bonus programs, is important. In any case, it is better to fly with proven airlines, even if the cost of their tickets will be an order of magnitude more expensive. Saving on your life is not worth it. It is better to buy tickets in advance, but from reliable carriers. Moreover, almost all of the above airlines regularlyconduct bonus programs and promotions.
