Which is the world’s largest international airline?
Delta is the world’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers, but Ryanair carries more passengers on international routes than any other.
Latest data released by IATA revealed that Ryanair carried 86.3 million international passengers last year, making it the world’s largest international airline, well ahead of easyJet in second place with 56.3 million.
British Airways lagged well behind in fifth place with 35.3 million, after Lufthansa with 48.2 and Emirates with 47.2.
Delta Air Lines carried more than 129 million passengers on domestic and international routes, making it by far the largest airline overall.
In terms of international and domestic passengers carried, Ryanair was the sixth largest in the world and easyJet the eighth biggest. Aside from Lufthansa, they were the only two non-US or Chinese airlines to feature in the top 10.
Total (International + Domestic)
|
Rank |
Airline |
Thousands |
|
1 |
Delta Air Lines |
129,433 |
|
2 |
Southwest Airlines |
129,087 |
|
3 |
China Southern Airlines |
100,683 |
|
4 |
United Airlines |
90,439 |
|
5 |
American Airlines |
87,830 |
|
6 |
Ryanair |
86,370 |
|
7 |
China Eastern Airlines |
66,174 |
|
8 |
easyJet |
62,309 |
|
9 |
Lufthansa |
59,850 |
|
10 |
Air China |
54,577 |
International
|
Rank |
Airline |
Thousands |
|
1 |
Ryanair |
86,370 |
|
2 |
easyJet |
56,312 |
|
3 |
Lufthansa |
48,244 |
|
4 |
Emirates |
47,278 |
|
5 |
British Airways |
35,364 |
|
6 |
Air France |
31,682 |
|
7 |
Turkish Airlines |
31,016 |
|
8 |
KLM |
27,740 |
|
9 |
United Airlines |
25,708 |
|
10 |
Delta Air Lines |
24,243 |
Domestic
|
Rank |
Airline |
Thousands |
|
1 |
Southwest Airlines |
129,087 |
|
2 |
Delta Air Lines |
105,190 |
|
3 |
China Southern Airlines |
91,729 |
|
4 |
American Airlines |
67,761 |
|
5 |
United Airlines |
64,731 |
|
6 |
China Eastern Airlines |
57,986 |
|
7 |
US Airways |
48,043 |
|
8 |
Air China |
46,466 |
|
9 |
All Nippon Airways |
39,277 |
|
10 |
Gol Airlines |
36,311 |
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.
































Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps