This article provides an overview of the world’s largest public airlines based on their revenue as of January 2023, according to Forbes’ report on the top ten public carriers globally. Let’s dive into the details.
10. Air Canada
Air Canada, Canada’s flagship carrier and the country’s largest airline in terms of passenger volume, was founded in 1937 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. Operating scheduled and charter services to more than 225 destinations worldwide, the airline boasts a fleet of over 350 aircraft. It’s also a founding member of the Star Alliance, one of the three major airline alliances. Air Canada ranks tenth on our list with a revenue of $12.7 billion, assets totalling $21.8 billion, and a reported loss of $1.3 billion. The airline employs nearly 20,000 individuals.
9. China Southern Airlines
China Southern Airlines, established in 1988, stands as China’s largest airline and one of the Big Three alongside Air China and China Eastern Airlines. With major hubs at Guangzhou (CAN) and Beijing Daxing (PXX) airports, the airline operates scheduled services to over 215 destinations worldwide, boasting a fleet of more than 900 aircraft. It secures the ninth spot on our list with a revenue of $12.9 billion, assets worth $44.9 billion, and a reported loss of $4.8 billion. The airline employs over 100,000 people.
8. Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines, Turkey’s flag carrier and the world’s largest airline by destinations served, traces its roots back to 1933 and is headquartered at Ataturk Airport (ISL) in Istanbul. Operating scheduled services to over 350 destinations worldwide with a fleet of more than 400 aircraft, Turkish Airlines flies to 126 countries, the most extensive network of any airline globally. It’s part of the Star Alliance network and ranks eighth on our list, boasting a revenue of $19.7 billion, assets worth $32 billion, and a reported profit of $2.8 billion. The airline employs over 40,000 people.
7. International Airlines Group (IAG)
Based in London, England, the International Airlines Group (IAG) is a multinational airline holding company formed in 2011 following the merger of British Airways (BA) and Iberia. The group also includes prominent subsidiaries like Aer Lingus and Vueling. With multiple full-service, low-cost, and cargo operators, IAG serves hundreds of destinations worldwide. It claims the seventh spot on our list with a revenue of $24.3 billion, assets totalling $42 billion, and a reported profit of $470 million. The group employs over 66,000 people.
6. Southwest Airlines
Founded in 1967 as Air Southwest, Southwest Airlines holds the title of the world’s largest low-cost carrier. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, it primarily offers domestic services to 42 U.S. states using a point-to-point business model. The airline operates scheduled services to over 120 destinations in the U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, utilising a fleet of over 800 Boeing 737 aircraft. Southwest Airlines ranks sixth on our list with a revenue of $24.8 billion, assets totalling $35.6 billion, and a reported profit of $650 million. The airline employs just over 66,000 people.
5. Air France-KLM Group
The Air France-KLM Group, established in 2004 as a result of a mutual agreement between the flag carriers of France and the Netherlands, is a multinational airline holding company. It also holds minority shares in various European and African airlines. With primary offices in Paris and the Netherlands, the group secures the fifth spot on our list with a revenue of $29.4 billion, assets worth $34.8 billion, and a reported profit of $970 million. The group employs nearly 80,000 people.
4. Lufthansa Group
German-based Lufthansa Airlines, Germany’s flag carrier, is the second-largest airline in Europe in terms of passenger volume. Established in 1955 and headquartered in Cologne, Germany, it operates scheduled services to over 310 destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 275 aircraft. Lufthansa is one of the five founding members of the Star Alliance. The airline primarily operates from its hubs in Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) in Germany. Lufthansa Group secures the fourth place on our list with a revenue of $35.8 billion, assets totalling $48.8 billion, and a reported profit of $940 million. It stands as one of the largest employers in Europe, with over 110,000 employees worldwide.
3. United Airlines Holdings
United Airlines, one of the ‘big three’ airlines in the United States, offers full-service domestic and international services to over 350 destinations. Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, it became the third-largest airline in the world following its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010. United operates a diverse fleet of over 900 aircraft and is a founding member of Star Alliance. It ranks third on our list with a revenue of $48.8 billion, assets worth $70.4 billion, and a reported profit of $1.9 billion. The United Airlines group employs just under 93,000 people.
2. American Airlines Group
Another of the ‘big three’ airlines in the United States, American Airlines is one of the largest airlines globally in terms of scheduled passenger volume and total revenue. Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, it offers domestic and international services to over 350 destinations. American Airlines operates a fleet of over 950 aircraft, with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) being its largest hub. It handles nearly half a million passengers daily. American Airlines Group secures the second spot on our list with a revenue of $52.3 billion, assets totalling $66.8 billion, and a reported profit of $1.8 billion. The group employs a whopping 130,000 people.
1. Delta Air Lines
Topping our list is Delta Air Lines, one of the oldest airlines in operation, founded in 1925 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Delta offers domestic and international services to over 325 destinations with a massive fleet of over 950 aircraft. Similar to United and American, Delta also operates from major hubs in the U.S., with Atlanta (ATL) being the largest. It claims the top spot with a revenue of $54 billion, assets worth $73.1 billion, and a reported profit of $1.9 billion. The airline employs over 95,000 people.
These airlines represent the giants of the aviation industry, each with its own unique history, network, and financial performance in the competitive world of air travel.
