The World's Largest Airlines

The world’s largest airlines by fleet size, revenue, profit, passengers carried and revenue passenger mile. Especially in United States of America, where there has been so much mergers and a acquisitions in airline market, the world’s largest airline can easily emerge. Factors such as lower fuel prices and significant appreciation of Us Dollars, has caused upward shift in profits in aviation industry. American airlines are the top benefactors of this.

Top Ten Largest Airlines In The World

#1  American Airlines Group

This airline came about as a result a merger in 2013 between Us Airways and American Airlines. In 2012, American Airlines had filed for chapter eleven bankrupts protection. American Airlines Group now has fleet of 1,494 planes – the largest in the world. The airline operates 6,700 flights and transports 530,794 passengers daily. It has a total of 113,00 employees. American Airlines generated $40.99 billion as revenue and $7.66 billion as profit last year. All these has made the airline the largest in the world.

#2  Delta Airlines

It merged with Northwest Airlines in 2008. The Georgia based airline is the oldest airline still operating in United States – found in 1928. The airline company flies to 316 destinations, covering 57 countries and carries about 170 million passengers yearly – with 1,330 fleet of plane and 80,000 employees under its name. Last year, the company made $40.5 billion in revenue and $4.7 billion as profit.

#3  United Continental Holdings

United Continental Holdings was founded in 2010 when United Airlines and Continental Airlines merged and it is based in Chicago, United States. The company has 1,229 fleet of aircrafts, flies about 130 million people to 352 destinations in 58 countries yearly, it has 84,000 employees and the first Us airline to offer in- flight wi-fi. United Continental Holdings made $37.5 billion as revenue and $7.1 billion as profit last year. The company is the winner of Global Traveler’s Best Frequent-Flyer Program for 11th consecutive years.

#4 Lufthansa Group

It is a German airline company – first founded in 1926 through merging to airline companies, Deuscher Aero Lloyd and Junkers Luftverkehr. After second world war, the company was forced to suspend it operation in 1945 and it officially reopened eight years later. It has 900 fleet of planes and Lufthansa’s 120,000 employees is largest in aviation industry. It made $35.5 billion as revenue and $1.9 billion as profit last year.

#5  Air France –  KLM

The Airline company came as a result of a merger between French and Dutch airlines in 2004. The company flies about 87.35 million passengers on its fleet of 894 planes to 316 destinations in 115 countries yearly. It generated $28.9 billion as revenue and $0.311 billion as profit last year.

#6  Emirates Group

Founded in 1985, the United Arab Emirate based airline is owned by Dubai Royal Family. Emirates Group owns 231 fleet of planes, 56,725 employees  and flies 49.3 million people to 144 destinations in in 81 countries yearly. It made $24.1 billion as revenue and $1.24 billion as profit last year.

#7  International Airlines Group

The London based International Airlines Group merged with Aer Lingus from Ireland, British Airways and Spanish airlines Iberia and Vueling. The airline company has 60,862 employees and flies about 97 million passengers to 255 destinations in 61 countries on its fleet of 525 planes yearly. Last year, it generated $25.3 billion in revenue and $1.7 billion as profit.

#8  Southwest Airlines

The Dallas -based airline was founded in 1967 and it is the world’s largest low-cost carrier. The company uses mainly Boeing made planes and it has 720 of them. It has 49,600 employees on its payroll and made $20.2 billion as revenue and $2.2 billion as profit last year.

#9  China Southern Airlines

The Guangzhou based airline was founded in 1988. It has 515 fleet of planes, 87,202 employees and carries about 100 million passengers to 210 destinations in 40 countries yearly. The airline generated $17.7 billion as revenue and $0.62 billion as profit last year.

#10  China Eastern Airlines

The Shanghai based airline was founded in 1988 and has 68,874 employees. The airline transports about 79.1 million passengers to 217 destinations in 26 countries each year. Last year, the airline company made $14.9 billion as revenue and $0.730 billion as profit