Airlines With The World's Largest Fleets (2023 Edition)

When it comes to determining the world's largest airlines, many different metrics can be used. You could go by annual passenger volume, the number of destinations, or even by annual revenue. But a common method used to rank airline size is the number of aircraft in the fleet. Well, for today's video, Simple Flying has compiled a list of the largest commercial airlines – passenger and cargo – in terms of fleet size in 2023. Aircraft are regularly being delivered to airlines, with others being retired. So by the time you watch this, specific numbers may not be 100% accurate. However, it should give a pretty good idea of the largest fleets anyway. Let's get started. Coming in at number five is FedEx Express. Previously known as just FedEx, the courier company underwent a significant brand identity overhaul over two decades ago. This led to the company renaming itself from FedEx to FedEx Express. FedEx Express is the world's largest cargo airline in terms of fleet size and freight tons transported. The American cargo carrier is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and is a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation. It operates cargo services to over 375 destinations in over 200 countries on six continents. Apart from its national hub in Memphis, the airline has regional hubs across the US and international hubs in Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. FedEx Express has a fleet size of 733 aircraft and is currently the largest operator of the Airbus A300-600 aircraft. Interestingly, it also operates the last aircraft of the type ever built. FedEx currently uses a mix of Airbus, Boeing, and McDonnell Douglas aircraft, but also operates ATR and Cessna aircraft as part of its feeder fleet. To be more detailed, the mainline FedEx fleet is made up of Airbus A300-600s, Boeing 757-200Fs, 767-300Fs, 777Fs, and McDonnell Douglas MD-11Fs. Notably, all FedEx Boeing 757s are considered special freighters, meaning they are converted from passenger versions. In case you were unaware, FedEx was also a potential launch customer for the Airbus A380F, with 10 aircraft on order. With the delay to the passenger A380 and bleak visibility on the freighter program, FedEx cancelled the order and shifted its attention onto the Boeing 777F. Number 4 is Southwest Airlines. Southwest is the world's largest low-cost airline. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the airline operates flights to nearly 125 destinations in 42 states in the US, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. With a total of 15 focus cities, Southwest operates over 4,000 daily flights. The carrier comes number four on our list with an excellent fleet size of 878 aircraft at the time of this video's production. The airline is an exclusive Boeing 737 family operator. With a massive single-type fleet, Southwest also becomes the world's largest operator of the type. The existing fleet of Southwest Airlines comprises Boeing 737-700s, 737-800s, and 737-MAX 8s. Apart from the over 200 active 737-MAX 8s, the airline has more than 250 of the type on order. The airline also has 192 of the shorter 737-MAX 7s on order, a type that has yet to enter service. Number 3 is United Airlines. United is one of the three major full-service airlines in the United States, alongside Delta and American. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, the airline operates to nearly 350 destinations worldwide. Apart from its domestic destinations, the airline operates scheduled services to over 130 international destinations across five continents. United Airlines has an impressive 920 aircraft operating under its name. Following its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010, the airline acquired hundreds of aircraft from Continental. The merger also made the airline the third-largest in the world by fleet size and routes. That status continues today as the airline operates a healthy fleet of Boeing and Airbus airliners. When it comes to United's Airbus fleet, the carrier currently operates Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft. However, the airline has 70 A321neo, 50 A321XLR, and 45 A350-900s on order. But who knows if those A350s will ever arrive at the airline as the order is about a decade old by now. For United's Boeing fleet, the airline operates several 737 variants, such as the Dash 700, Dash 800, Dash 900, and the Max 8 and Max 9. The airline also has the 737 Max 10 on order, although the exact quantity of these is not specified yet. The airline also operates the Boeing 757, Dash 200 and Dash 300, the 767, Dash 300 and Dash 400, the 777, Dash 200 and Dash 300, and finally, all three variants of the 787 Dreamliner, the Dash 8, Dash 9, and Dash 10. The average age of United Airlines' fleet in July 2023 was just over 16 years. United's oldest aircraft are Boeing 767-300ERs, which are over 30 years old. The closest second would be the carrier's 777-200ERs, with an approximate age of 27 years. The airline has an outstanding order of well over 650 Airbus and Boeing aircraft at the time of this video's production. Next up, Delta is the world's largest airline in 2023 by revenue, but it's number two on this list. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the airline operates to nearly 335 destinations worldwide. Apart from its domestic destinations, the airline operates scheduled services in over 55 countries across six continents. Including its regional affiliate airlines, Delta operates over 5,500 daily flights. A founding member of the SkyTeam Airline Alliance, Delta operates a fleet of some 960 aircraft. The airline uses a great mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft in its narrow and widebody fleets. It's noteworthy that Delta only operated a Boeing fleet before its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008, but the airline inherited several Airbus aircraft from Northwest's fleet, and now new Airbus aircraft have since been added. Delta's Airbus fleet consists of the Airbus A220-100 and A330-300, as well as the A319, A320, and A321-CEO variants. There's also the A321neo, A330-200, A330-300, and A330-900, as well as the A350-900. Delta's Boeing fleet is almost as varied. It still operates the Boeing 717-200 and flies both the 737-800 and 737-900. Notably, the airline also has a whopping 100 737 MAX X aircraft on order. The airline also operates 757-200 and 767-300 and 767-400. Interestingly, Delta is the only major legacy carrier in the US that does not use the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. In first place is American Airlines. American Airlines is the world's second-largest airline by revenue in 2023 but operates the largest fleet. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the airline serves over 350 destinations worldwide across more than 60 countries. The founding One World Alliance member tops our list of the largest airlines by fleet size with a whopping 980 aircraft in its mainline fleet. The airline operates a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Like United Airlines, American only operates an Airbus narrowbody fleet. Additionally, the airline operates Boeing aircraft in both the narrowbody and widebody categories. American's Airbus fleet consists of the Airbus A320 family, that is, A319, A320, and A321, as well as A321neos. The airline previously operated the A330, but these have since been retired. The airline has 50 Airbus A321XLRs on order, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2024. American's Boeing narrowbody fleet includes the Boeing 737-800 and MAX 8, and is one of the largest Dash 800 aircraft operators, with over 300 examples in its fleet. In the widebody category, the airline operates 777-200 and Dash 300, as well as the 787-8 and Dash 9. Which of these airlines have you flown with? And what is your favorite airline and favorite aircraft? Let us know in the comments section.