Largest Global, Transatlantic & Transpacific Airlines in Q3 2024

In this article, we reveal the top 20 largest airlines globally in Q3 2024, based on Available Seat Miles (ASMs), number of flights, and seats offered. This article also highlights the largest transatlantic and transpacific airlines.

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

As of Q3 2024, United Airlines leads the global airline industry with 78.6 billion ASMs, 254,094 flights, and over 44.5 million seats. Delta Air Lines follows behind with 73.5 billion ASMs, and American Airlines ranks third with 68.5 billion ASMs and the highest number of flights at 308,712.

Emirates stands out as the largest non-US airline in the fourth position, whereas Southwest Airlines with its extensive domestic network, ranks fifth globally and offers the highest number of seats at 58.3 million.

S. No.	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	78,636,947,978	254,094	44,534,835
2	Delta Air Lines	73,533,529,763	305,238	52,588,227
3	American Airlines	68,453,821,779	308,712	53,585,552
4	Emirates	56,539,768,170	44,029	18,195,314
5	Southwest Airlines	45,449,670,492	365,982	58,295,522
6	China Southern Airlines	42,847,794,806	231,831	41,435,704
7	Turkish Airlines	41,375,082,264	132,744	26,884,253
8	Qatar Airways	40,606,660,182	50,421	13,775,272
9	China Eastern Airlines	38,089,290,551	233,835	39,574,622
10	Air China	34,497,508,403	154,438	29,015,391
11	British Airways	27,977,152,895	66,207	13,484,383
12	Lufthansa	27,892,626,577	86,488	17,152,811
13	Air France	27,553,741,281	57,018	11,810,204
14	Ryanair	26,439,365,722	165,798	31,774,847
15	Air Canada	25,405,289,228	48,989	10,066,767
16	EasyJet	24,319,044,158	170,914	30,747,891
17	IndiGo	21,741,337,528	179,552	32,190,652
18	Singapore Airlines	21,707,704,831	29,328	7,767,473
19	Cathay Pacific	17,899,518,319	25,556	7,650,761
20	Alaska Airlines	17,499,990,461	71,944	12,181,782

Largest Transpacific Airlines

On transpacific routes, United Airlines maintains its dominance with over 10.4 billion ASMs, far ahead of the competition. Korean Air and EVA Air make it into the top three with over 5 billion ASMs each.

Moreover,  Delta Air Lines and Cathay Pacific round out the top five, emphasizing their strong presence in the transpacific market.

S. No.	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	10,413,262,590	7,461	1,894,344
2	Korean Air	5,731,277,239	3,049	961,179
3	EVA Air	5,174,376,742	2,268	754,210
4	Delta Air Lines	5,033,341,514	2,788	808,906
5	Cathay Pacific	4,973,075,804	2,072	662,948
6	Air Canada	4,653,889,502	2,274	743,655
7	ANA	4,058,339,074	3,128	770,736
8	JAL	3,666,903,669	3,240	710,879
9	Asiana Airlines	2,686,626,750	1,248	452,806
10	Qantas	2,614,709,400	1,206	343,383
11	Philippine Airlines	2,594,326,355	1,202	397,139
12	American Airlines	2,461,844,744	1,472	373,888
13	Singapore Airlines	2,342,553,036	1,286	286,350
14	China Airlines	2,306,111,428	1,035	347,234
15	Air New Zealand	1,810,710,400	840	267,440
16	Hawaiian Airlines	1,253,723,860	1,102	304,042
17	Zipair Tokyo	1,078,244,360	750	217,500
18	Air China	849,961,806	368	130,162
19	Starlux Airlines	821,387,232	408	124,848
20	China Southern Airlines	783,551,800	315	108,566

Largest Transatlantic Airlines

In the transatlantic market, United Airlines leads again with over 19 billion ASMs, followed closely by Delta Air Lines with 18.8 billion ASMs. Even though United operates the largest number of flights (18,266), Delta offers the largest number of seats at 4,417,597. American Airlines ranks third with 13.7 billion ASMs.

Moreover, European carriers led by British Airways, Air France, and Lufthansa round off the top six largest transatlantic airlines. Beyond the top six, Air Canada is the leading North American carrier outside the US, ranked seventh.

S. No.	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	19,082,502,081	18,266	4,330,704
2	Delta Air Lines	18,771,988,874	17,350	4,417,597
3	American Airlines	13,701,701,069	11,765	3,187,946
4	British Airways	12,981,782,748	10,135	2,957,622
5	Air France	12,444,752,378	8,538	2,713,040
6	Lufthansa	12,202,836,753	7,689	2,544,097
7	Air Canada	10,468,628,810	8,556	2,721,836
8	Turkish Airlines	9,708,199,778	5,215	1,666,451
9	Iberia	9,399,880,042	5,764	1,805,062
10	KLM	6,843,248,313	4,468	1,406,930
11	Virgin Atlantic	6,103,799,285	4,938	1,444,331
12	TAP Air Portugal	5,050,047,112	5,111	1,234,536
13	Air Transat	4,681,590,966	4,715	1,261,467
14	ITA Airways	3,895,613,439	2,600	737,813
15	Aer Lingus	3,702,537,365	3,874	1,013,088
16	Air Europa	3,365,521,994	1,971	630,274
17	Swiss	3,216,528,120	2,676	706,296
18	Condor	3,023,257,640	2,042	633,020
19	LATAM Airlines Brasil	2,824,535,674	1,472	509,532
20	Aeromexico	2,584,060,511	1,707	451,877

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

Source: CIRIUM Diio