In 2022, the global aviation industry witnessed nearly 31 million flights, averaging a flight every second.
Soaring above the clouds, the Airbus A320ceo dominated the skies as the most used aircraft type in 2022 with a staggering 562.1 billion Available Seat Kilometers (ASKs) Production and 6.35 million flights.
In the aviation industry, ASK Production, or Available Seat Kilometers Production, is a key metric used to measure the total passenger capacity provided by an airline or aircraft type over a given period. It is calculated by multiplying the number of available seats on each flight by the distance travelled in kilometres.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 heavily used aircraft types in 2022, based on both ASKs production and the number of total flights.
Top 10 Most Used Aircraft Types in 2022 by ASK Production
Here’re the top 10 most used aircraft types in 2022 in terms of ASK Production, according to data obtained from OAG.
1. Airbus A320ceo
ASK Production: 562,120,061,428
Major Operators:
- easyJet
- IndiGo
- China Eastern Airlines
- JetBlue
- Spring Airlines
Since 2008, the A320 has held onto the crown as the most used aircraft type. Its versatility and reliability have made it the go-to choice for airlines worldwide, ensuring seamless operations and exceptional passenger experience.
2. Boeing 737-800
ASK Production: 333,077,999,802
Major Operators:
- Ryanair
- American Airlines
- United Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
The Boeing 737-800 takes its place as a formidable contender for the top spot. The A320s and 737-800s have been widely favoured by many startup carriers, particularly low-cost carriers (LCCs) and ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs), due to their ideal balance of payload-range capability and cost per seat.
3. Boeing 737-800 (Winglets)
ASK Production: 313,581,071,465
Major Operators:
- Southwest Airlines
- Ryanair
- United Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Alaska Airlines
Equipped with winglets for enhanced performance, the Boeing 737-800 continues to serve as a workhorse for major operators worldwide, offering efficiency and reliability for various routes.
4. Boeing 777-300ER
ASK Production: 310,307,490,658
Major Operators:
- Emirates
- Qatar Airways
- Air France
- SAUDIA
- Turkish Airlines
As one of the leading and popular wide-body aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER ranked as the fourth most-used aircraft type in 2022 in terms of ASK production.
5. Airbus A321
ASK Production: 281,914,763,716
Major Operators:
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- China Southern Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- Turkish Airlines
Widely known as the big brother of the A320ceo, the Airbus A321ceo was the fifth most used aircraft type in 2022 in terms of ASK production. With its extended range and economics, the A321 has been a preferred choice for airlines serving both short and medium-haul routes.
6. Boeing 787-9
ASK Production: 204,033,429,483
Major Operators:
- All Nippon Airways
- United Airlines
- Air Canada
- Etihad Airways
- Hainan Airlines
Ranking in the sixth position is the Boeing 787-9, the mid-sized Dreamliner which is quite busy operating long-haul routes for its operators, whether it’s transpacific or transatlantic. Currently, the Boeing 787-9 operates on some of the World’s longest routes.
7. Airbus A350-900
ASK Production: 132,490,011,237
Major Operators:
- Singapore Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Delta Airlines
- Cathay Pacific
- Air China
Renowned for its advanced design and fuel efficiency, the Airbus A350-900 has gained popularity among leading airlines, offering long-range capabilities and flexibility.
The A350-900 alongside the modified A350-900ULR currently operate some of the World’s longest routes including the longest one between Singapore and New York.
8. Airbus A330-300
ASK Production: 128,564,489,901
Major Operators:
- Cathay Pacific
- Turkish Airlines
- SAUDIA
- Delta Airlines
- Air China
The Airbus A330-300 continues to be a reliable workhorse, serving various airlines on medium to long-haul routes, with its spacious cabin and efficient performance.
9. Airbus A320neo
ASK Production: 111,075,839,685
Major Operators:
- IndiGo
- Frontier Airlines
- China Eastern Airlines
- easyJet
- Spirit Airlines
Stepping into the realm of modern technology, the Airbus A320neo makes its mark as the ninth-ranked aircraft type based on ASK production. With its advanced fuel efficiency and enhanced features, this next-generation narrowbody ensures a sustainable and bright future for the A320 family.
10. Boeing 787-8
ASK Production: 102,154,172,799
Major Operators:
- All Nippon Airways
- American Airlines
- Qatar Airways
- Air India
- Japan Airlines
The Boeing 787-8 is the initial variant of the Dreamliner series and is slightly smaller in size compared to other 787 models. While it may have a shorter range and seating capacity compared to the larger variants, the 787-8 still offers exceptional fuel efficiency and advanced features that make it an attractive choice for airlines.
All the above rankings are based on the ASK Production for each aircraft type. You can get a better idea of how the same aircraft type can generate two very different sets of ASKs from the table below:-
Top 10 Most Used Aircraft Types in 2022 by Number of Flights
Here’re the top 10 most used aircraft types in 2022 by the number of flights flown by each aircraft type, according to data obtained from CIRIUM.
1. Airbus A320ceo
Total Flights: 6,350,000 flights (20.5% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: easyJet, IndiGo, China Eastern Airlines, JetBlue, Spring Airlines
2. Boeing 737-800
Total Flights: 5,530,000 flights (17.9% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: Ryanair, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, China Southern Airlines
3. Airbus A321ceo
Total Flights: 2,120,000 flights (7% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Turkish Airlines
4. Airbus A319ceo
Total Flights: 1,420,000 flights (4.6% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: American Airlines, easyJet, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, China Eastern Airlines
5. Boeing 737-700
Total Flights: 1,160,000 flights (3.7% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, WestJet, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines
Notably, the rankings also featured three turboprops and regional jets that have captured significant market share. Leading the charge was the Embraer E175, securing the sixth position. Following closely behind was the ATR-72 in seventh place, which has gained recognition for its ability to operate cost-effectively on short-haul routes.
6. Embraer ERJ-175
Total Flights: 962,200 flights (3.1% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Air Canada Express
7. ATR-72
Total Flights: 909,800 flights (2.9% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: Wings Air, IndiGo, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Air New Zealand, Binter Canarias
8. Airbus A320neo
Total Flights: 831,500 flights (2.7% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: IndiGo, Frontier Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, easyJet, Spirit Airlines
9. Boeing 737 MAX 8
Total Flights: 723,100 flights (2.3% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: Southwest Airlines, Ryanair, United Airlines, Air Canada, American Airlines
Despite facing temporary grounding and subsequent challenges, the Boeing 737 MAX 8 claimed its place among the most used aircraft types in 2022.
10. CRJ-900
Total Flights: 634,900 flights (2% of Global Flights)
Major Operators: Delta Airlines, American Airlines, China Express Airlines, Air Canada Express, Lufthansa
Rounding off the list was the CRJ-900 in the tenth spot, solidifying its presence as a preferred choice among airlines for regional operations.
An honourable mention goes to the increasingly popular A321neo which provides even better economics when higher capacity is required. Although it narrowly missed a spot in the top 10 rankings with 609,000 flights in 2022, its prominence is expected to grow in the coming years, making its presence felt on the leaderboard.
While the above-written operators are significant players in terms of operating the mentioned aircraft types, they may not necessarily represent the absolute largest operators for each specific aircraft type.