The 10 Largest Airlines in the World 2024

As the aviation industry continues to recover and evolve post-pandemic, 2024 has witnessed significant growth in global air travel. Airlines worldwide are competing in terms of capacity, fleet expansion, and network reach to meet the increasing demand for air travel.

In this article, we reveal the top 10 airlines of 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

United Airlines retained its position as the global leader in 2024, with an impressive 315.3 billion ASMs, showcasing its extensive route network and long-haul operations. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines closely follow, highlighting the dominance of North American carriers on the global stage.

Moreover, American Airlines offered the most flights (2,177,433) and most seats (275,484,151) in 2024.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	315,312,872,790	1,616,464	212,442,242
2	American Airlines	295,902,371,474	2,177,433	275,484,151
3	Delta Air Lines	291,135,321,832	1,713,533	239,898,788
4	Emirates	222,385,716,454	172,059	71,061,432
5	Southwest Airlines	178,455,212,628	1,452,233	231,420,199
6	Ryanair	159,269,058,271	1,068,135	203,795,969
7	Qatar Airways	158,962,503,259	196,636	54,000,421
8	China Southern Airlines	151,464,874,858	822,653	147,595,887
9	Turkish Airlines	145,373,173,774	418,951	85,090,974
10	China Eastern Airlines	137,646,787,882	863,753	144,329,849
11	Air China	131,946,776,916	615,660	114,562,937
12	British Airways	112,500,979,196	310,657	59,751,051
13	Air Canada	105,162,939,679	385,956	57,198,520
14	Lufthansa	104,853,817,183	418,832	73,697,969
15	Air France	103,994,287,487	279,068	50,098,241
16	LATAM Airlines	97,953,023,246	554,129	101,619,186
17	IndiGo	93,943,675,638	750,085	135,150,645
18	Singapore Airlines	85,815,907,009	117,233	30,956,055
19	EasyJet	79,053,619,558	569,585	102,687,435
20	Aeroflot	71,476,504,540	293,118	47,445,349

Top 10 Airlines in North America

Unsurprisingly, the Big Three US carriers lead the race in North America, maintaining their stronghold in the region. Notably, Southwest and Air Canada round out the top five, ensuring a diverse range of options for travelers across the continent.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	United Airlines	315,312,872,790	1,616,464	212,442,242
2	American Airlines	295,902,371,474	2,177,433	275,484,151
3	Delta Air Lines	291,135,321,832	1,713,533	239,898,788
4	Southwest Airlines	178,455,212,628	1,452,233	231,420,199
5	Air Canada	105,162,939,679	385,956	57,198,520
6	Alaska Airlines	70,952,567,620	433,416	57,571,155
7	JetBlue	66,582,870,302	324,214	49,978,430
8	Spirit Airlines	54,087,337,136	291,158	55,364,386
9	Frontier Airlines	40,658,588,134	221,387	45,187,806
10	Volaris	32,263,636,534	164,973	33,035,729

Top 10 Airlines in Europe

In Europe, Ryanair emerges as the frontrunner with 159.3 billion ASMs and 203.8 million seats offered across more than a million flights. Turkish Airlines comes in second, generating 145.4 billion ASMs and offering 85 million seats.

Moreover, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air France also secure strong positions in terms of ASMs and flights, reflecting a mix of low-cost and full-service carriers in the European aviation industry.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Ryanair	159,269,058,271	1,068,135	203,795,969
2	Turkish Airlines	145,373,173,774	418,951	85,090,974
3	British Airways	112,500,979,196	310,657	59,751,051
4	Lufthansa	104,853,817,183	418,832	73,697,969
5	Air France	103,994,287,487	279,068	50,098,241
6	EasyJet	79,053,619,558	569,585	102,687,435
7	Aeroflot	71,476,504,540	293,118	47,445,349
8	KLM	68,164,137,516	257,004	40,494,666
9	Iberia	53,298,924,715	190,972	30,079,605
10	TAP Air Portugal	33,461,274,823	117,978	20,150,950

Top 10 Airlines in Asia-Pacific

In the Asia-Pacific region, China Southern Airlines leads with 151.5 billion ASMs and 147.6 million seats. China Eastern Airlines and Air China follow, with 137.6 billion and 131.9 billion ASMs, respectively.

India’s IndiGo also stands out with the highest number of flights among non-Chinese carriers in the region at 750,085, offering 135.1 million seats. The Indian low-cost carrier is expected to rank even higher in the next few years.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	China Southern Airlines	151,464,874,858	822,653	147,595,887
2	China Eastern Airlines	137,646,787,882	863,753	144,329,849
3	Air China	131,946,776,916	615,660	114,562,937
4	IndiGo	93,943,675,638	750,085	135,150,645
5	Singapore Airlines	85,815,907,009	117,233	30,956,055
6	Cathay Pacific	69,657,114,355	98,559	29,530,796
7	ANA	69,379,543,308	435,359	80,351,617
8	Qantas	60,027,568,675	277,347	39,130,183
9	Korean Air	56,920,451,327	125,667	28,187,741
10	Hainan Airlines	55,154,528,982	273,555	51,735,149

Top 10 Airlines in South America

South America’s aviation sector is led by LATAM Airlines, which dominates with 97.9 billion ASMs and over 101.6 million seats across 554,129 flights.

Avianca and Azul complement LATAM’s offerings, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accessibility for passengers within South America and to international destinations.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	LATAM Airlines	97,953,023,246	554,129	101,619,186
2	Avianca	40,679,266,579	263,356	47,910,844
3	Azul	29,691,517,570	323,308	40,478,365
4	Copa Airlines	28,748,904,382	125,911	20,181,168
5	Gol	27,262,013,450	212,011	38,008,716
6	Aerolineas Argentinas	17,017,416,288	111,221	15,773,744
7	Sky Airline	8,462,839,227	57,735	11,259,294
8	JetSmart Chile	5,749,990,428	29,528	5,912,004
9	BoA	3,441,576,394	44,063	6,313,253
10	JetSmart Argentina	512,399,868	3,197	594,642

Top 10 Airlines in the Middle East

Emirates continues to soar in the Middle East, exemplifying the region’s ambition and vision for global connectivity with 222.3 billion ASMs, operating 172,059 flights and offering over 71 million seats. Qatar Airways ranks second, highlighting its extensive network and capacity with over 54 million seats

As usual, Qatar Airways operated the most flights (196,636) and Emirates offered the highest number of seats.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Emirates	222,385,716,454	172,059	71,061,432
2	Qatar Airways	158,962,503,259	196,636	54,000,421
3	Saudia	63,891,526,982	191,859	43,014,942
4	Etihad Airways	57,767,857,048	86,058	21,046,940
5	Flydubai	27,865,407,672	118,945	20,541,889
6	Air Arabia	19,022,284,731	77,692	13,882,660
7	El Al	17,253,371,021	34,217	6,793,438
8	Flynas	14,080,602,279	98,493	17,022,281
9	Oman Air (SAOG)	13,368,951,156	38,781	8,092,396
10	Gulf Air	12,614,024,123	52,167	9,107,361

Top 10 Airlines in Africa

Ethiopian Airlines leads the African carriers, with ASMs totaling 47 billion in 2024. The carrier also offered the highest seat capacity in the region at over 25 million across 142,994 flights. EgyptAir and Royal Air Maroc rank second and third, respectively, with significant contributions to North Africa’s connectivity.

The African carriers continue to foster economic development and cultural exchange across the region.

Rank	Airlines	ASMs	Flights	Seats
1	Ethiopian Airlines	46,962,443,068	142,994	25,348,215
2	EgyptAir	22,783,500,367	82,727	14,889,424
3	Royal Air Maroc	14,745,165,683	65,325	10,139,470
4	Kenya Airways	9,955,267,772	46,626	6,086,852
5	Air Algerie	9,427,917,052	78,324	10,104,139
6	Air Cairo	7,682,292,373	39,418	6,136,475
7	Safair	6,255,658,152	57,268	10,621,290
8	Air Mauritius	5,386,428,190	12,213	2,108,068
9	Tunisair	4,094,101,816	22,900	4,220,870
10	Airlink	3,436,733,850	84,092	5,870,072

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

Source: CIRIUM Diio