United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Ryanair confirmed as 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 48.2m and Emirates with 47.2m.
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 |
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel