Every year the world's airlines now move close to 5 billion people through the sky — more than half the planet's population in a single twelve-month cycle. But that traffic is not spread evenly. A small group of mega-carriers dominates, and the airline that flies the most passengers is not the one with the most valuable brand, nor the oldest, nor the most luxurious.
This report ranks the 15 largest passenger airlines in the world — carriers whose core business is flying people, not freight. (Dedicated cargo operators such as FedEx Express and UPS Airlines are deliberately excluded.) For each airline you'll find annual passengers carried, brand value, founding country, founding year, and what makes it distinctive — followed by full comparison tables and a transparent source list.
How This Ranking Was Built
Two lenses, one list. «Biggest» can mean two different things, so we report both. Passengers carried measures raw scale — how many people an airline moves in a year (2024 full-year figures, the latest complete benchmark, with fiscal-year carriers noted). Brand value measures commercial strength and is taken from Brand Finance's Airlines 50 2026 report (published 30 April 2026).
Why numbers vary. Passenger totals depend on methodology — segment passengers (each flight leg counted) vs. trips, airline-group vs. single-brand reporting, and calendar vs. fiscal years. We flag these differences so the table is honest rather than tidy.
Industry context. IATA reports the airline industry carried about 4.8 billion segment passengers in 2024 at a record 83.5% load factor, rising to roughly 5.0 billion in 2025 as demand grew a further 5.3%.
At a Glance: The 15 Biggest Passenger Airlines
The master table below ranks carriers primarily by passengers carried in 2024. Global network groups (Lufthansa Group, IAG, Air France–KLM) are reported at group level because that is how their traffic is officially published.
| # | Airline | Country | Founded | Passengers/year | Brand value | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Airlines | United States | 1930 | ~226 million (2024) | US$11.7 bn (2025) | Largest by passengers |
| 2 | Delta Air Lines | United States | 1925 | ~200 million (2024) | US$18.6 bn (2026) | World's most valuable brand |
| 3 | Ryanair | Ireland | 1984 | ~183.7 million (2024) | — | Europe's biggest low-cost carrier |
| 4 | United Airlines | United States | 1926 | ~174 million (2024) | US$13.1 bn (2026) | 2nd most valuable brand |
| 5 | Southwest Airlines | United States | 1967 | ~140 million (2024) | US$6.7 bn (2026) | Largest domestic LCC |
| 6 | Lufthansa Group | Germany | 1953 | ~131 million (2024) | — | Europe's largest network group |
| 7 | IAG (British Airways + Iberia) | UK / Spain | BA 1974 · IAG 2011 | ~122 million (2024) | BA US$4.6 bn (2025) | Heathrow + Madrid hubs |
| 8 | IndiGo | India | 2006 | ~118.6 million (2024) | — | India's dominant carrier |
| 9 | China Southern Airlines | China | 1988 | ~150 million+ (2024) | US$4.1 bn (2025) | Largest Chinese carrier |
| 10 | Air France–KLM | France / Netherlands | KLM 1919 · AF 1933 | ~98 million (2024) | — | KLM = oldest airline still flying |
| 11 | China Eastern Airlines | China | 1988 | ~140 million (2024) | US$3.2 bn (2025) | Shanghai-based mega-carrier |
| 12 | Turkish Airlines | Türkiye | 1933 | ~83.4 million (2024) | US$2.9 bn (2026) | Most countries served |
| 13 | Emirates | UAE | 1985 | ~53.7 million (FY24/25) | US$10.6 bn (2026) | Most valuable brand outside N. America |
| 14 | Air Canada | Canada | 1937 | ~50 million (2024) | US$3.2 bn (2025) | Canada's flag carrier |
| 15 | Qatar Airways | Qatar | 1993 | ~43.1 million (FY24/25) | US$3.9 bn (2025) | World's youngest mega-carrier |
Note: China Southern and China Eastern carry very large mostly-domestic passenger volumes; together with Air China, the three Chinese majors flew more than 460 million passengers in 2024. Group-level segment-passenger methodologies can rank them differently — see «Why Two Airlines Can Both Be the Biggest» below.
The Carriers in Detail
1. American Airlines
- Country: United States
- Founded: 1930 (mail-route heritage to 1926)
- Passengers 2024: ~226 million
- Brand value 2025: US$11.7 billion
- Base / alliance: Fort Worth, Texas · oneworld
American Airlines is the largest passenger airline on Earth by people carried, flying roughly 226 million passengers in 2024 across more than 350 destinations in over 60 countries. It traces its corporate roots to 1930 and is a founding member of the oneworld alliance. Its scale comes from a dense, hub-heavy US domestic network — Dallas/Fort Worth, Charlotte, Chicago and beyond — that generates enormous connecting volume. In brand terms it slipped behind United into third place globally (Brand Finance 2025: US$11.7 billion) after earlier corporate-pricing missteps it has since reversed.
2. Delta Air Lines
- Country: United States
- Founded: 1925 (as a crop-dusting company; passenger service from 1929)
- Passengers 2024: ~200 million
- Brand value 2026: US$18.6 billion
- Base / alliance: Atlanta, Georgia · SkyTeam
Delta began life in 1925 as a crop-dusting operation (Huff Daland Dusters) before becoming Delta Air Service in 1928 — one of the most unusual origin stories in aviation. Today it is the world's most valuable airline brand, holding the Brand Finance crown for the eighth consecutive year with a 2026 brand value of US$18.6 billion. Around 200 million passengers flew Delta in 2024. Its strategy leans on industry-leading reliability, a premium-heavy revenue mix, and a powerful Atlanta hub — the busiest airport in the world.
3. Ryanair Air Lines
- Country: Ireland
- Founded: 1984
- Passengers 2024: ~183.7 million
- Model: Ultra-low-cost · Independent
Founded in 1984, Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passengers and the continent's defining ultra-low-cost carrier, flying roughly 183.7 million passengers in 2024. Its model — a single aircraft type (Boeing 737), point-to-point routes, secondary airports and aggressive ancillary fees — turns extreme aircraft utilisation into massive volume. Ryanair proves that a no-frills short-haul airline can reach a passenger scale that rivals the world's biggest legacy carriers.
4. United Airlines
- Country: United States
- Founded: 1926 (Varney Air Lines; United Air Lines formed 1931)
- Passengers 2024: ~174 million
- Brand value 2026: US$13.1 billion
- Base / alliance: Chicago, Illinois · Star Alliance
United traces its history to 1926 and the 1931 formation of United Air Lines. It carried about 174 million passengers in 2024 and has climbed to the second most valuable airline brand in the world (Brand Finance 2026: US$13.1 billion), overtaking American. Heavy investment in fleet modernisation, long-haul expansion and premium cabins has driven the brand's rise, supported by major hubs at Chicago, Newark, Houston, Denver and San Francisco.
5. Southwest Airlines
- Country: United States
- Founded: 1967 (began flying 1971)
- Passengers 2024: ~140 million
- Brand value 2026: US$6.7 billion
- Model: Low-cost · Independent
Incorporated in 1967 and flying since 1971, Southwest is the world's largest domestic low-cost carrier, moving around 140 million passengers in 2024 — almost entirely within the United States. It long held the title of world's strongest airline brand (Brand Strength Index) before slipping to second-strongest in 2026 after changes to its famous «bags fly free» policy. Its brand value stands at US$6.7 billion (Brand Finance 2026), still anchored by exceptional customer loyalty.
6. Lufthansa Group
- Country: Germany
- Founded: 1953 (predecessor from 1926)
- Passengers 2024: ~131 million (group)
- Brands: Lufthansa · SWISS · Austrian · Brussels · Eurowings · ITA
- Alliance: Star Alliance
The modern Deutsche Lufthansa AG was founded in 1953. As a group it carried roughly 131 million passengers in 2024 across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and ITA Airways. Multi-hub connectivity through Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich and Vienna makes it Europe's largest full-service network group and a transatlantic powerhouse.
7. International Airlines Group (IAG)
- Country: UK / Spain
- Founded: British Airways 1974 · IAG 2011
- Passengers 2024: ~122 million (group)
- British Airways brand value 2025: US$4.6 billion
- Alliance: oneworld
IAG was formed in 2011 by merging British Airways (itself created in 1974 from BOAC and BEA) with Spain's Iberia; it also owns Aer Lingus, Vueling and LEVEL. The group flew about 122 million passengers in 2024. British Airways, anchored at London Heathrow, recorded the fastest brand-value growth among the top 10 airline brands in the 2025 Brand Finance ranking at US$4.6 billion as it rebuilt punctuality and trust.
8. IndiGo airline
- Country: India
- Founded: 2006
- Passengers 2024: ~118.6 million
- Model: Low-cost · Independent
The youngest carrier in the global top 10 by passengers, IndiGo launched in 2006 and rode the explosive growth of Indian air travel to roughly 118.6 million passengers in 2024. With a huge single-type fleet and a dominant share of the world's fastest-growing major aviation market, IndiGo is now expanding aggressively into international long-haul — a strong candidate to climb this ranking in the years ahead.
9. China Southern Airlines
- Country: China
- Founded: 1988 (from the CAAC break-up)
- Passengers 2024: ~150 million+
- Brand value 2025: US$4.1 billion
- Base: Guangzhou
Created in 1988 from the break-up of China's state airline CAAC, China Southern is the largest carrier in China and one of the biggest in Asia by passengers, driven by an enormous domestic market hubbed at Guangzhou and Beijing Daxing. Its brand value rose 48% to US$4.1 billion in the 2025 Brand Finance ranking — among the fastest-growing major airline brands worldwide as Chinese travel rebounded.
10. Air France–KLM
- Country: France / Netherlands
- Founded: KLM 1919 · Air France 1933 · group 2004
- Passengers 2024: ~98 million (group)
- Alliance: SkyTeam
The Air France–KLM group (formed 2004) carried around 98 million passengers in 2024 through twin hubs at Paris–Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam–Schiphol. Its standout fact: KLM, founded in 1919, is the oldest airline in the world still operating under its original name — a century of continuous aviation history inside a modern mega-group.
11. China Eastern Airlines
- Country: China
- Founded: 1988 (from the CAAC restructuring)
- Passengers 2024: ~140 million
- Brand value 2025: US$3.2 billion
- Base: Shanghai
Also born in 1988 from the CAAC restructuring, China Eastern is hubbed at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports and carries an enormous, mostly domestic passenger base. Its 2025 brand value grew 36% to US$3.2 billion, and Brand Finance rated it among the strongest airline brands in the world thanks to deep trust in its home market.
12. Turkish Airlines
- Country: Türkiye
- Founded: 1933
- Passengers 2024: ~83.4 million
- Brand value 2026: US$2.9 billion
- Base / alliance: Istanbul · Star Alliance
Founded in 1933, Turkish Airlines flies to more countries than any other airline on the planet, using Istanbul's geographic position as a global connector between Europe, Asia and Africa. It carried about 83.4 million passengers in 2024 and posted its highest-ever brand value in 2026 (US$2.9 billion, up 27%), outgrowing its European peers.
13. Emirates Airlines
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Founded: 1985
- Passengers FY2024/25: ~53.7 million
- Brand value 2026: US$10.6 billion
- Base: Dubai · Independent
Launched in 1985 with two leased aircraft, Emirates is now the most valuable airline brand outside North America (Brand Finance 2026: US$10.6 billion) and the world's most profitable airline. It carried about 53.7 million passengers in FY2024/25. Its lower headcount than US giants is by design: an all-widebody fleet (Airbus A380 and Boeing 777) flying ultra-long-haul through a single Dubai super-hub means fewer passengers but vastly more long-distance travel and a premium global reputation.
14. Air Canada
- Country: Canada
- Founded: 1937 (as Trans-Canada Air Lines; renamed 1965)
- Passengers 2024: ~50 million
- Brand value 2025: US$3.2 billion
- Base / alliance: Montreal · Star Alliance
Founded in 1937 as Trans-Canada Air Lines and renamed Air Canada in 1965, the country's flag carrier moved roughly 50 million passengers in 2024. Its brand value recovered to pre-pandemic levels at US$3.2 billion (Brand Finance 2025), helped by strong demand on Asia-Pacific and transatlantic routes and continued fleet renewal.
15. Qatar Airways
- Country: Qatar
- Founded: 1993 (operations from January 1994)
- Passengers FY2024/25: ~43.1 million
- Brand value 2025: US$3.9 billion
- Base / alliance: Doha · oneworld
Established in 1993, Qatar Airways is the youngest carrier on this list yet a perennial «world's best airline» contender. It carried 43.1 million passengers in FY2024/25 and posted a record US$2.15 billion net profit. Like Emirates, it trades raw passenger volume for premium long-haul connectivity through its Doha super-hub, with a 2025 brand value of US$3.9 billion.
Two Ways to Be the Biggest: Volume vs. Value
The most important insight in this report is that the passenger leaderboard and the brand-value leaderboard are not the same list. Ryanair is the world's third-biggest airline by people carried but does not appear in the top 10 most valuable brands. Emirates carries a quarter of American Airlines' passengers yet commands one of the most valuable brands on Earth. Here are both rankings side by side.
Top 10 by Passengers Carried (2024)
| # | Airline | Country | Passengers 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Airlines | USA | ~226 million |
| 2 | Delta Air Lines | USA | ~200 million |
| 3 | Ryanair | Ireland | ~183.7 million |
| 4 | United Airlines | USA | ~174 million |
| 5 | China Southern | China | ~150 million+ |
| 6 | Southwest Airlines | USA | ~140 million |
| 7 | China Eastern | China | ~140 million |
| 8 | Lufthansa Group | Germany | ~131 million |
| 9 | IAG | UK / Spain | ~122 million |
| 10 | IndiGo | India | ~118.6 million |
Top 10 Most Valuable Airline Brands (Brand Finance 2026)
| # | Airline | Country | Brand value | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delta Air Lines | USA | US$18.6 bn | +25% |
| 2 | United Airlines | USA | US$13.1 bn | +7% |
| 3 | Emirates | UAE | US$10.6 bn | +27% |
| 4 | American Airlines* | USA | ~US$11.7 bn (2025) | 2025 figure |
| 5 | Southwest Airlines | USA | US$6.7 bn | +5% |
| 6 | British Airways | UK | US$4.6 bn (2025) | +44% |
| 7 | China Southern | China | US$4.1 bn (2025) | +48% |
| 8 | Qatar Airways | Qatar | US$3.9 bn (2025) | +23% |
| 9 | Air Canada | Canada | US$3.2 bn (2025) | +15% |
| 10 | China Eastern | China | US$3.2 bn (2025) | +36% |
Emirates moved into 3rd place in the 2026 brand ranking, pushing American Airlines (US$11.7 bn in the 2025 report) down the order. The combined value of the world's top 50 airline brands reached US$147 billion in 2026, up 11% year-on-year (Brand Finance).
Why Two Airlines Can Both Be the Biggest
If you compare aviation rankings across the web you will see the same airlines in different positions. This is not error — it is methodology, and understanding it makes you a smarter reader of every airline statistic.
Segment Passengers vs. Trips
Most «passengers carried» figures count segment passengers — every individual flight leg. A one-stop journey counts as two. This rewards carriers with dense hub-and-connection networks (US giants) and short-haul, high-frequency models (Ryanair, IndiGo) while understating long-haul specialists like Emirates and Qatar Airways, whose passengers fly farther but board fewer times.
Group vs. Brand
Lufthansa Group, IAG and Air France–KLM are holding companies with multiple airline brands. Reported at group level they rank high; split into individual brands (Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM) they look smaller. We use group level where that is the official reporting standard and flag it clearly.
Calendar vs. Fiscal Year
Emirates and Qatar Airways report on an April–March financial year, so their figures are not directly comparable to calendar-2024 numbers from US and European carriers. We label fiscal-year data (FY24/25) so the comparison stays honest.
Key Takeaways
- American Airlines moves the most people (~226 million in 2024), but Delta owns the most valuable brand (US$18.6 billion, 2026).
- US carriers dominate scale — four of the ten biggest by passengers are American, powered by a huge, connection-heavy domestic market.
- Low-cost models reach legacy scale. Ryanair (#3) and IndiGo (#8) prove ultra-efficient short-haul flying rivals the biggest network airlines.
- Gulf carriers win on value, not volume. Emirates carries ~54 million passengers yet ranks #3 globally by brand value through premium long-haul.
- KLM (1919) is the oldest airline still flying under its original name; Qatar Airways (1993) is the youngest mega-carrier on the list.
- The whole sector is growing: ~4.8 billion passengers in 2024, ~5.0 billion in 2025, with record load factors (IATA).
Which is the largest passenger airline in the world?
By passengers carried, American Airlines Group is the largest, flying roughly 226 million passengers in 2024. By brand value, Delta Air Lines leads with a 2026 brand value of about US$18.6 billion (Brand Finance).
What counts as a "passenger-only" airline?
A passenger-focused airline is one whose core business is moving people, not freight. These carriers still ship cargo in the belly holds of their passenger jets, but they are not dedicated freight operators like FedEx Express or UPS Airlines — which is why pure cargo airlines are excluded from this ranking.
Which is the oldest airline still flying under its original name?
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
, founded in the Netherlands in 1919 and now part of the Air France–KLM group, is the world's oldest airline still operating under its original name.
Why do airline passenger rankings differ between sources?
Because of methodology: segment passengers (each flight leg) vs. trips, airline-group vs. single-brand reporting, and calendar vs. fiscal years. US carriers rank high because of dense, connection-heavy domestic networks, while long-haul specialists like Emirates carry fewer total passengers but far more long-distance traffic.
How many people fly worldwide each year?
According to IATA, airlines carried about 4.8 billion segment passengers in 2024 at a record 83.5% load factor, rising to roughly 5.0 billion in 2025 as demand grew a further 5.3%.
Are Chinese airlines among the biggest in the world?
Yes. China Southern, China Eastern and Air China together carried more than 460 million passengers in 2024, almost all on a vast domestic network. China Southern alone is one of the largest carriers in Asia by passengers.
