Top 10: World’s Largest Airlines by Capacity Q1 2024

In this article, we reveal the top 10 airlines of Q1 2024 by region, based on Available Seat Miles (ASMs), number of flights, and seats offered.

Note that the airlines are ranked using Available Seat Miles (ASMs) as the primary metric, according to data from CIRIUM. ASMs offer a comprehensive picture of an airline’s capacity, considering both the number of seats and the distance they can travel.

Top 20 Global Airlines

Among airlines worldwide, United Airlines takes the top spot for Q1 2024 as the airline with the most ASMs at 73,135,756,915. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines follow closely behind in terms of ASMs with 71,061,266,683 and 65,853,849,226 ASMs respectively.

Moreover, American Airlines offered the most flights (513,397) and most seats (65,932,432) in the first quarter of 2024.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	73,135,756,915	373,367	49,766,113
2	American Airlines	71,061,266,683	513,397	65,932,432
3	Delta Air Lines	65,853,849,226	395,332	55,042,454
4	Emirates	53,717,255,377	41,640	17,127,612
5	Southwest Airlines	42,800,188,174	354,470	56,371,898
6	Qatar Airways	39,540,594,874	49,835	13,494,349
7	China Southern Airlines	37,791,369,018	209,031	37,699,593
8	Turkish Airlines	36,150,284,400	117,894	23,456,260
9	China Eastern Airlines	33,674,493,815	217,211	36,294,279
10	Ryanair	32,270,020,367	206,340	39,383,634
11	Air China	32,157,471,371	153,425	28,864,693
12	British Airways	25,936,526,810	73,431	14,020,444
13	Air Canada	24,483,605,887	92,412	13,683,874
14	Air France	23,794,707,008	61,124	11,094,667
15	LATAM Airlines	23,712,373,061	137,015	25,129,240
16	Lufthansa	23,557,775,401	95,641	16,572,152
17	IndiGo	21,797,234,828	177,236	31,602,506
18	Singapore Airlines	20,737,826,478	28,439	7,493,410
19	ANA	16,716,773,546	106,513	19,422,606
20	KLM	16,516,372,381	60,793	9,678,931

Top 10 Airlines in North America

With the big three US carriers leading the airlines globally, Southwest and Air Canada rounded off the top five airlines in North America in the first quarter of 2024.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	73,135,756,915	373,367	49,766,113
2	American Airlines	71,061,266,683	513,397	65,932,432
3	Delta Air Lines	65,853,849,226	395,332	55,042,454
4	Southwest Airlines	42,800,188,174	354,470	56,371,898
5	Air Canada	24,483,605,887	92,412	13,683,874
6	JetBlue	16,448,194,709	80,589	12,359,352
7	Alaska Airlines	16,328,201,503	97,499	13,004,458
8	Spirit Airlines	13,644,279,171	72,380	13,698,518
9	Frontier Airlines	9,588,392,810	49,556	9,971,766
10	Volaris	7,699,153,735	37,900	7,597,725

Top 10 Airlines in Europe

In Europe, Turkish Airlines emerged as the top carrier for Q1 2024 based on Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Boasting a staggering 36,150,284,400 ASMs, Turkish Airlines offered the second-highest number of flights and seats, only behind Ryanair.

Ryanair followed closely behind at 32,270,020,367 ASMs. Legacy carriers like British Airways, Air France, and Lufthansa round out the top five, showcasing their continued presence at the top in the region.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Turkish Airlines	36,150,284,400	117,894	23,456,260
2	Ryanair	32,270,020,367	206,340	39,383,634
3	British Airways	25,936,526,810	73,431	14,020,444
4	Air France	23,794,707,008	61,124	11,094,667
5	Lufthansa	23,557,775,401	95,641	16,572,152
6	KLM	16,516,372,381	60,793	9,678,931
7	Aeroflot	15,406,779,770	57,668	9,758,962
8	EasyJet	13,854,266,798	107,359	19,373,827
9	Iberia	11,668,529,435	42,789	6,654,106
10	TAP Air Portugal	7,706,459,474	27,001	4,587,608

Top 10 Airlines in Asia-Pacific

China Southern Airlines leads the pack in the Asia-Pacific region for Q1 2024 with ASMs of 37,791,369,018, followed by China Eastern Airlines and Air China with 33,674,493,815 and 32,157,471,371 ASMs respectively.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	China Southern Airlines	37,791,369,018	209,031	37,699,593
2	China Eastern Airlines	33,674,493,815	217,211	36,294,279
3	Air China	32,157,471,371	153,425	28,864,693
4	IndiGo	21,797,234,828	177,236	31,602,506
5	Singapore Airlines	20,737,826,478	28,439	7,493,410
6	ANA	16,716,773,546	106,513	19,422,606
7	Cathay Pacific	16,477,829,533	23,123	6,993,066
8	Qantas	14,757,331,335	67,796	9,480,000
9	Korean Air	13,922,353,264	30,615	6,876,298
10	Hainan Airlines	12,989,713,125	67,942	12,952,775

Top 10 Airlines in South America

In South America, LATAM Airlines claimed the top spot with ASMs totalling 23,712,373,061 and undoubtedly the carrier offered the most seats (25,129,240) as well.

Avianca came in second place based on ASMs and Azul made it into the top three.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	LATAM Airlines	23,712,373,061	137,015	25,129,240
2	Avianca	9,532,269,820	64,902	11,821,190
3	Azul	7,044,980,540	79,295	9,861,766
4	Copa Airlines	7,006,416,902	30,897	4,937,016
5	Gol	6,745,630,068	51,757	9,232,962
6	Aerolineas Argentinas	4,518,372,226	30,917	4,354,252
7	Sky Airline	2,279,662,120	15,444	2,985,672
8	JetSmart Chile	1,528,969,710	7,726	1,545,684
9	BoA	825,372,698	10,606	1,530,817
10	JetSmart Argentina	512,399,868	3,197	594,642

Top 10 Airlines in the Middle East

Emirates took the lead in the Middle East with ASMs totalling 53,717,255,377 in Q1 2024. Even though Qatar Airways operated the highest number of flights among the Middle East carriers, it ranked second in terms of ASMs.

However, if we look at the seats offered by these carriers, Emirates is unsurprisingly at the top again.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Emirates	53,717,255,377	41,640	17,127,612
2	Qatar Airways	39,540,594,874	49,835	13,494,349
3	Saudia	15,972,671,487	46,656	10,555,370
4	Etihad Airways	13,634,170,943	19,608	4,887,111
5	Flydubai	6,913,663,606	28,899	5,034,034
6	Air Arabia	4,444,608,895	18,900	3,326,309
7	Oman Air (SAOG)	3,970,577,929	11,295	2,377,783
8	El Al	3,904,469,380	7,145	1,442,629
9	Flynas	3,586,642,375	24,232	4,230,318
10	Kuwait Airways	3,179,221,023	8,685	1,685,785

Top 10 Airlines in Africa

In Africa, Ethiopian Airlines reported the highest ASMs for Q1 2024 at 11,064,295,537 and offered the most seats (6,039,806) compared to other airlines in the region.

EgyptAir trails behind with 5,534,606,021 ASMs.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Ethiopian Airlines	11,064,295,537	34,346	6,039,806
2	EgyptAir	5,534,606,021	20,822	3,714,728
3	Royal Air Maroc	3,139,994,190	14,086	2,168,285
4	Kenya Airways	2,437,919,018	11,038	1,459,153
5	Air Algerie	2,271,340,073	18,518	2,347,016
6	Air Cairo	1,670,223,552	9,124	1,452,984
7	Safair	1,547,598,510	14,254	2,638,518
8	Air Mauritius	1,325,680,976	2,900	524,994
9	Tunisair	907,808,763	4,954	908,151
10	Airlink	836,437,035	20,668	1,431,989

Source: CIRIUM Diio