Traveling is always a foretaste of something new, unforgettable. And so that everything goes wonderfully from the beginning to the end, all the details should be considered. The most popular form of transport for traveling abroad is airplane. Therefore, it is better to study in advance the capabilities of certain airlines. What are the largest airlines in the world? A list of them with a description will be presented in descending order.
Delta Airlines - the world leader in passenger traffic
By all criteria, Delta is the largest airline in the world. In its arsenal is more than 1300 aircraft. The airline has its own network of routes in 356 directions and operates flights to 65 countries. At the beginning of its existence (founded on May 30, 1924), the company was called Huff Daland Dusters. Then her planes were used to spray pesticides over cotton fields in the southern United States. In 1928, the airline was renamed the Delta Air Service. And already in 1929, the first passenger plane was sent from Dallas to Jackson.
Today, the largest airline in the world, Delta Airlines is the undisputed leader in the number of passenger traffic, as well as in the number of operated passenger aircraft, the main manufacturers of which are Boeing and Airbus. Every day , the airline's planes carry out about 5,000 flights. The company employs 75 thousand qualified employees.
American Airlines USA
Despite the financial difficulties that the company experienced in the recent past, it is still included in the TOP of the largest airlines in the world. The company employs more than 100 thousand people. About 7000 flights are made daily to route destinations in 350 cities. The airline operates flights to 56 countries. American Airlines and 5 other leaders in passenger transportation create the Oneworld alliance.
The carrier’s fleet includes 125 Airbus-A319-100 aircraft, 55 Airbus-A320-200 aircraft, 178 Airbus-A321-200 aircraft, 15 Airbus-A330-200 aircraft, 9 Airbus-A330- aircraft 300 ", 266" Boeing-737 ", 64" Boeing-757 ", 46" Boeing-767 ", 67" Boeing-777 ", 45 aircraft" MD-82 "and 52 aircraft" MD-83 ".
Southwest Airlines USA
Southwest Airlines is the undisputed leader in the number of passengers carried. This is the largest low-cost airline in the world. The fleet of the company has an impressive number of Boeing 737 aircraft and carries out more than 3,000 flights per day. Southwest Airlines flies mainly between major US cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Houston, Orlando and Phoenix. The main advantage is that the prices for flights are relatively low, but the quality is at a high level. Cheap flights to the USA is Southwest Airlines' motto.
Emirates Airlines - UAE Freight Monopoly
This is a state-owned company whose base is located on the territory of the Abu Dhabi International Airport. The development of Emirates Airlines began with the lease of two airliners in 1985. Over three years, the airline’s profit began to increase rapidly, which allowed to quickly develop the route network and equip the fleet with the most modern ships. Today, the company's route network includes 450 cities in 60 countries.
The company’s fleet consists of 230 Airbus-A330, A340, A380 and Boeing-777 aircraft.
United Airlines USA
It is the largest airline in the world in terms of aircraft. It has at its disposal 695 airliners, which regularly carry out international passenger flights. The company has 569 aircraft for domestic flights. The airline's route network connects the countries of Western Europe, Africa and Australia. United Airlines has bases in Chicago, San Francisco, Guam, Tokyo, Denver, Los Angeles, and Washington. The basis of the company's air fleet is Boeing 737 and 757. There are also airliners. The most popular are flights to major cities in China and Hawaii. Russia and Eastern Europe are not included in the list of countries served.
Lufthansa - Europe's largest airline
The European airline began its existence back in 1926. However, only in the 60s it began to gain momentum and became one of the largest among air carriers.
Today, the airline, together with a number of European carriers, forms the Lufthansa Group. The main hubs of the company are located in Germany. The fleet of the Lufthansa Group has 636 aircraft. For passengers, this is one of the most profitable airlines. Her partners can participate in generous bonus programs. The company also constantly holds promotions and sales of tickets in various directions.
Air france
This is a whole holding uniting a number of French and Dutch airlines. In 2004, the national carriers of the Netherlands and France merged to form Air France. The company's hubs are located in Paris ( Charles de Gaulle Airport) and in Amsterdam ( Sripol Airport ). Today, Air France has 614 aircraft at its disposal. The basis are Boeing and Airbus airliners.
For those who care about the environment, this air carrier is most suitable, since the tanks of the company's planes are half filled with biofuel. The Air France route network has 243 destinations and serves 103 countries.
British airways
British Airways is the largest carrier in the United Kingdom, with its base at Heathrow Airport in London. Currently, the company's fleet consists of 400 aircraft. The annual passenger traffic turnover is 62 million passengers per year. The route network has more than 200 destinations.
The airline has its own developed bonus system, which is used by regular customers. Each flight entitles you to receive miles and points, which can then be exchanged for airline tickets.
This is not a complete list of the largest airlines. Each country has its own airline leaders. However, not all of them are international. In addition, this list may change every year, as some companies may develop, while others suffer some difficulties and lose their leading position. Therefore, to say which is the largest airline in the world is not so easy. The analysis affects many indicators, such as the number of aircraft, the annual volume of traffic, the availability of service centers, etc. However, for passengers, in addition to this information, the reliability of the company is important, as well as various bonus programs. In any case, it is better to carry out flights with trusted airlines, even if the cost of their tickets will be an order of magnitude more expensive. Saving on your life is not worth it. It is better to buy tickets in advance, but from reliable carriers. Moreover, almost all of the above airlines regularly hold bonus programs and promotions.