world largest air travel

Most airlines are now much smaller than they were before the pandemic. See the 20 biggest airlines in the world ranked by available seats.

• Airlines worldwide have been on a rollercoaster of schedule and operational challenges since March 2020.
• Carriers have shrunk and expanded throughout COVID-19, and today's industry looks different than it did pre-pandemic.
• Aviation data firm OAG shared with Insider the world's biggest airlines based on seats available in 2021 — take a look.

Over the past two and a half years, the airline industry has changed dramatically.

Starting in March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced carriers around the globe to shrink and modify their schedules as travel halted and countries closed their borders. Pilots sought early retirement , employees were furloughed, and aircraft were parked. 

However, the strong post-pandemic demand is flipping the industry on its head. With travel rebounding faster than expected, airlines are making moves to keep up, like buying new planes, flying new routes, and launching aggressive hiring campaigns to get more feet on the ground and in the air to keep the operation running smoothly. 

Globally, airlines carried an estimated 2.2 billion people and flew 22.2 million flights in 2021, reported research company Finances Online, citing data from the International Aviation Transportation Agency (IATA). That compares to 1.8 billion in 2020, which was just 40% of the 4.5 billion carried in 2019, per IATA .

With all the upheaval, which airlines are now the largest in the world? Turns out the US' "Big Four" airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines, as well as several Chinese carriers, made the top-20 list with hundreds of millions of seats offered in 2021, according to data from London-based aviation analytics firm Official Airline Guide (OAG).

The organization also provided 2018's data set to Insider in 2019 , which revealed American Airlines as the world's largest carrier. Since then, the rankings have changed, with Southwest Airlines becoming the world's largest carrier in terms of seats. Several airlines that made the top 20 list in 2018 offered significantly fewer seats in 2021.

Meanwhile, there are a handful of carriers, like JetBlue Airways and Hainan Airlines, that were not part of the 2018 data set but increased capacity last year to make the list.

Here are the world's 20 biggest airlines in the world by the number of seats made available to customers:

20. Alaska Airlines

Country : USA

2021 Capacity : 33,645,148 seats

2018 Capacity : 54,574,295 seats

19. Shandong Airlines

Country : China

2021 Capacity : 33,735,751 seats

2018 Capacity : Not in the 2018 top 20 dataset

18. Hainan Airlines

2021 Capacity : 38,230,597 seats

17. Xiamen Airlines

2021 Capacity : 39,087,022 seats

16. Sichuan Airlines

2021 Capacity : 39,294,914 seats

15. Easyjet

Country : UK

2021 Capacity : 39,490,376 seats

2018 Capacity : 100,082,969 seats

14. Shenzhen Airlines

2021 Capacity : 39,727,188 seats

13. JetBlue Airways

2021 Capacity : 40,356,063 seats

12. Spirit Airlines

Related stories

2021 Capacity : 40,622,515 seats

11. Turkish Airlines

Country : Turkey

2021 Capacity : 45,249,215 seats

2018 Capacity : 93,109,025 seats

10. Ryanair

Country : Ireland

2021 Capacity : 48,696,471 seats

2018 Capacity : 142,540,776 seats

9. Skywest Airlines

Country : India

2021 Capacity : 72,444,166 seats

2018 Capacity : 74,570,054 seats

7. Air China

2021 Capacity : 75,905,153 seats

2018 Capacity : 90,531,776 seats

6. United Airlines

2021 Capacity : 97,220,490 seats

2018 Capacity : 193,981,547 seats

5. China Eastern Airlines

2021 Capacity : 115,625,762 seats

2018 Capacity : 122,917,175 seats

4. China Southern Airlines

2021 Capacity : 123,472,958 seats

2018 Capacity : 131,972,745 seats

3. Delta Air Lines

2021 Capacity : 143,180,744 seats

2018 Capacity : 233,758,798 seats

2. American Airlines

2021 Capacity : 151,146,489 seats

2018 Capacity : 256,928,663 seats

1. Southwest Airlines

2021 Capacity : 168,852,981 seats

2018 Capacity : 209,526,838 seats

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The 15 Largest Airlines In The World

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The global airline industry is worth $841.4 billion in 2023, representing a 22% increase from the 2020’s low point of $686 billion

Much of this decrease in revenue was due to lower travel demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic and related travel restrictions.

However, for the first time since the pandemic, the industry has surpassed the pre-covid valuation of $828 billion (2019), showing a relatively swift and strong recovery.

For the moment, let’s take a look at the largest players in the industry to get a sense of its current state.

The 15 largest commercial airlines as of 2023 are:

American Airlines . Fort Worth, Texas

2022 Revenue: $29.9 billion Total Employees: 123,400 Fleet Size: 935 aircraft

American Airlines is the largest airline in the world in terms of revenue passenger mile, scheduled passengers carried, and fleet size.

The company operates nearly 6,800 flights each day between 350 destinations across more than 50 countries.

It’s also a founding member of Oneworld, the third-largest airline alliance in the world.

In addition to long-haul flights, American Airlines also offers regional service under the brand name American Eagle. The company operates ten hubs in the United States, with the Dallas/Fort Worth location being the most prominent.

On average, American Airlines flies approximately 500,000 passengers each day and over 200 million passengers annually.

As of 2023, the carrier operates the largest commercial aircraft fleet in the world. Its fleet of 935 planes consists mostly of Airbus and Boeing.

Over 80% of these aircraft are narrow-bodies, primarily Boeing 737-800 and Airbus A320 series.

In addition to regular cabin options such as economy, American Airlines also offers premium products such as:

Flagship First. Flagship First is American Airlines’ international first-class option. The company only offers it aboard the Boeing 777-300ER.

Flagship Business. Offered mainly on the airline’s Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A330-200s is a business class cabin that features fully lie-flat seats.

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Delta Air Lines . Atlanta, Georgia

2022 Revenue: $29.9 billion Total Employees: 83,000 Fleet Size: 915 aircraft

Delta Air Lines is the second-largest airline in the world by the number of scheduled passengers carried and the largest by revenue and market cap.

It operates over 5,400 daily flights across 325 destinations and six continents.

The company is a founding member of SkyTeam, the world’s second-largest airline air alliance. It’s also the only carrier in the United States that flies to certain major cities such as Copenhagen, Stuttgart, and Lagos.

Delta has been one of the largest airlines in the United States since the 1940s when it specialized mainly in freight transport.

The company experienced massive growth when it acquired Northeast Airlines in 1972 and expanded its all-jet fleet throughout the decade. It also acquired all of Pan Am’s trans-Atlantic routes in 1991, making it the largest airline operating in the Atlantic region.

As of 2023, Delta Airlines operates a fleet of 915 aircraft. Its Boeing 717, Boeing 767, and Boeing 757 fleets are the largest of their kind in the world.

Other than common cabin options such as first-class and basic economy, Delta also offers premium products such as:

Delta One. Delta One is the company’s best-selling business class product, offering private quarters and entertainment options on international and U.S. transcontinental flights.

Delta Comfort+. This option provides passengers with amenities such as dedicated overhead space and priority boarding.

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United Airlines . Chicago, Illinois

2022 Revenue: $24.63 billion Total Employees: 92,795 Fleet Size: 891 aircraft

Often simply called United, United Airlines is the third largest airline in the world by fleet size and travel routes.

The carrier mainly operates transcontinental flights across the United States but also flies hundreds of thousands of passengers each day between six continents.

United Airlines operates eight major hubs, with its Chicago-O’Hare location being the most prominent in terms of the number of departures and passengers.

It’s also a founding member of Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world.

The company also provides regional services across the United States, also typically operates under the brand name United Express.

As of 2022, United operates a fleet of 891 planes. The majority of these are either Airbus or Boeing aircraft.

The company’s best-selling business class product is United Polaris Business, which offers amenities such as premium seats, separate check-in counters, and access to the United Polaris Lounge.

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Lufthansa . Cologne, Germany

2022 Revenue: $16.3 billion Total Employees: 107,643 Fleet Size: 710 aircraft

In terms of scheduled passengers carried, Lufthansa is both the largest airline in Germany and the largest airline in Europe.

The company is Germany’s flag carrier, as well as one of the founding members of Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world.

Lufthansa also owns many subsidiary companies that are major airlines in their own right, including Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.

In addition to airlines, Lufthansa’s subsidiaries also include companies that specialize in related industries. Lufthansa Technik AG, for example, is the largest aircraft maintenance and repair company in Europe.

Lufthansa operates 710 aircraft, making it one of the largest fleets anywhere in Europe. In early 2021, the company retired the entirety of its Airbus A340-600 fleet.

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Emirates . Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2022 Revenue: $16.1 billion Total Employees: 105,730 Fleet Size: 262 aircraft

Emirates is both the flag carrier and largest airline in the United Arab Emirates.

Operating over 3,600 flights each week across 150 cities in 80 countries, the company is also the largest airline headquartered in the entire Middle East.

Founded in 1985, Emirates is much younger than most other airlines on this list. The company has recorded a profit every year other than its second and has grown at an annual rate of 20% since its inception.

Emirates is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group, an airline holding company solely owned by the government of Dubai.

The company is also relatively diversified when compared with other major airlines, owning seven subsidiaries that operate in related industries such as engineering and tour operator operations.

As of 2023, Emirates operates 262 passenger aircraft, as well as an additional 11 cargo aircraft under the brand name Emirates SkyCargo.

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Southwest Airlines . Dallas, Texas

2022 Revenue: $15.79 billion Total Employees: 66,100 Fleet Size: 792 aircraft

Originally established in 1967 as Air Southwest Co, Southwest Airlines spent the first decade of its existence operating solely as a Texas-based intrastate airline.

The company has since expanded to become the largest domestic flight carrier in the United States, operating about 4,000 flights across 109 American destinations during the peak travel season.

The entirety of Southwest Airlines’ fleet is composed of Boeing 737 jetliners, making the company the largest operator of the aircraft model in the world.

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China Southern. Guangzhou, China

2022 Revenue: $14.23 billion Total Employees: 98,098 Fleet Size: 653 aircraft

China Southern is the largest airline in Asia in terms of revenue, fleet size, and scheduled passengers carried.

The company was founded in 1988 after the government of China decentralized and restructured the state-owned CAAC Airlines into four different domestic airlines.

The company flies over 2,000 departures each day, spread across 200 destinations and 60 countries.

China Southern also entered a frequent flyer partnership with American Airlines in 2019, allowing passengers to spend a portion of their frequent flyer points at either airline.

The company currently operates a fleet of 653 aircraft, including 163 Boeing 737s and 106 Airbus A320s.

Qatar Airways. Doha, Qatar

2022 Revenue: $14.12 billion Total Employees: 50,110 Fleet Size: 236 aircraft

Qatar Airways is the second largest airline on the Arabian peninsula. It is fully owned and operated by the Qatari government

The airline flies to over 150 international destinations across the world, including: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. Since Qatar is a small country, almost all flights take off from Hamad International Airport.

Their fleet is composed of 236 aircraft, making the company’s high revenue even more impressive.

Air France . Paris, France

2022 Revenue: $11.89 billion Total Employees: 84,062 Fleet Size: 210 aircraft

Often stylized as AIRFRANCE, Air France is the flag carrier of France and the largest airline in the country.

The company originally formed in 1933 through a merger between Air Union, Air Orient, and three other airlines.

The airline offers domestic flights across 36 destinations in France, as well as international flights to 175 locations across 78 different countries.

As of 2022, Air France flew nearly 47 million passengers and employed over 84,000 workers. The company’s main international hub is the Charles de Gaulle Airport, where it flies an average of 335 departures each day.

Their main subsidiaries include Air France Consulting, Air France Hop, and Servair.

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China Airlines. Taipei City, Taiwan

2022 Revenue: $10.43 billion Total Employees: 88,395 Fleet Size: 113 aircraft

China Airlines is both the flag carrier of Taiwan and the largest airliner on the island.

Though China Airlines has been embroiled in controversy with the People’s Republic of China (mainland China) since its inception in 1959, the airline is nonetheless successful.

For instance, China Airlines agreed to begin the process of joining the airline alliance SkyTeam on September 14th, 2010, and became an official member a year later in 2011.

As of today, the airliner operates 1,400 flights weekly across 102 cities in Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania.

China Eastern Airlines. Shanghai, China

2022 Revenue: $9.4 billion Total Employees: 80,000 Fleet Size: 614 aircraft

China Eastern Airlines is the second-largest airline in China in terms of scheduled passengers carried, serving over 500,000 customers each day.

Along with Southern China and Air China, China Eastern Airlines was another one of the domestic airlines formed after the decentralization of the Chinese state-owned CAAC airlines.

China Eastern Airlines owns and operates Shanghai Airlines, another major Chinese airline that it merged within 2009.

The company’s main traffic routes are between Asia, North America, and Australia. As of 2021, their current main stated initiative is to expand domestic air travel between Shanghai and other major Chinese cities.

International Airlines Group. London, United Kingdom

2022 Revenue: $8.2 billion Total Employees: 59,505 Fleet Size: 558 aircraft

This large European airline is the holding company of British Airways and Iberia, which are the flag carriers of the United Kingdom and Spain.

British Airways merged with Iberia in 2011 to form the International Airlines Group. Together, the combined company is the second-largest airline in Europe in terms of revenue.

The airline is another member of Oneworld, the third-largest airline alliance in the world. It also codeshares with major airlines such as China Eastern Airlines and American Airlines.

Its extensive route network includes over 256 destinations, including several locations in the United States and the United Kingdom.

All Nippon Airways. Tokyo, Japan

2022 Revenue: $7.14 billion Total Employees: 42,196 Fleet Size: 212 aircraft

Also known as Zennikkū, All Nippon Airways is Japan’s largest airline in terms of revenue and scheduled passengers carried.

The company was second-largest formed in 1958 through a merger between Far East Airlines and Japan Helicopter and Aeroplane Transports company.

As of 2023, the company employs over 40,000 workers and serves an average of over three million customers annually.

All Nippon Airways primarily operates a large domestic route network across almost all major cities in Japan. It also flies international routes through the rest of Asia, as well as to Canada, Western Europe, and the United States.

The airline also operates various subsidiaries including ANA Wings, Air Do, and Peach.

Alaska Air Group. SeaTac, Washington

2022 Revenue: $6.18 billion Total Employees: 25,469 Fleet Size: 295 aircraft

Alaska Air Group is a US west-coast airline that mainly services states in that area and flies to international destinations.

In total, the airline flies to more than 115 destinations and has roughly 1,200 daily flights across the United States, Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica.

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JetBlue Airways. Long Island City, New York

2022 Revenue: $6.04 billion Total Employees: 22,000 Fleet Size: 287 aircraft

JetBlue is another American airline based around New York City, but also has corporate offices in Utah and Florida .

The company operates at least 1,000 flights daily, servicing 100 domestic and international network destinations. These destinations are all over the world in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and Europe.

Airline Industry FAQ

Is it safe to fly in 2023?

The CDC still suggests that it isn’t completely safe to fly in 2023 without proper precautions. If you’re dedicated to traveling, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, while many airline companies have implemented safety measures, such as mandatory face masks, daily cleanings, PPE for flight crew , and changes to food service , not all airlines are the same.

Additionally, many countries are still requiring mandatory two-week quarantines for Americans. When in doubt, we recommend researching your travel destination before planning a flight.

Why are flights getting expensive?

Flights are expensive due to the cost of jet fuel and increased demand. Flights were insanely cheap in 2020 because no one was flying! Now that demand and the price of jet fuel are rising once again, the cost of flights must rise as well. However, this trend should become more stable by 2023.

Is flying harmful to the environment?

Yes, flying is harmful to the environment. Given that commercial aviation alone was responsible for 3-4% of the US’ total greenhouse emissions, it’s unfortunate to admit that flying is harmful to the environment . Going forward, many countries are looking into using sustainable aviation fuels made from plants, algae, cooking oil, and even municipal waste.

What percentage of the US economy is the airline industry?

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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These Are the World's Largest Airlines

Between the growth of airline travel and airline mergers , the industry's top players have become huge enterprises. But which airlines are the world's largest?

Let's see how the world's largest airlines stack up.

Revenue Passenger-Kilometers (RPKs)

One of the most widely-used measures of airline size — published each year by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) — is revenue passenger-kilometers (RPKs.) As the name suggests, this metric is the sum of the distances flown by each of the airline's paying passengers over the course of the year.

Here are the airlines that flew the most passengers the farthest in 2018 :

1. American Airlines (331 billion RPKs)

Thanks to its global network and its leading position in the massive US air travel market since its merger with US Airways, American Airlines carried the most paying passengers farther than any other airline in the world. However, Delta and United are close behind .

2. Delta Air Lines (330 billion RPKs)

After edging out United in 2015 , Delta was again the second-largest airline in the world by passenger-kilometers in 2018 with 4.3% growth over 2017. Only half a billion RPKs behind American, Delta could well pass American in 2019, especially in light of American's quarrels with its mechanics union and the grounding of its 737 MAX aircraft for most of the year .

3. United Airlines (330 billion RPKs)

United Airlines once again was third among the world's airlines by RPKs in 2018. Even if Delta passes American in 2019, it is neck and neck with United. Data for 2018 from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics showed United passing Delta in scheduled revenue passenger-miles , though the IATA data shows Delta still ahead of United by around half a billion RPKs. With United also affected by the 737 MAX grounding in 2019, Delta may come out on top .

4. Emirates (302 billion RPKs)

With its all-wide-body fleet and extensive worldwide network consisting largely of long-haul flights from its hub in Dubai, Emirates flew the fourth-most passenger-kilometers of any airline in the world in 2018 — and the most of any airline based outside of the United States.

5. Southwest Airlines (215 billion RPKs)

Southwest makes up for what it lacks in distance in pure volume. Despite operating only Boeing 737 aircraft on short-haul and medium-haul routes, Southwest still managed to rank behind only the US Big Three and Emirates in passenger-kilometers flown in 2018.

Southwest has been expanding its network with some exciting new routes , but its 2019 numbers will likely be diminished by the grounding of its 737 MAX fleet and its dispute with some of its mechanics earlier in the year , which have resulted in flight cancellations for much of the year.

6. China Southern (200 billion RPKs)

It's no secret that China's air travel market is growing rapidly . US citizens accounted for 18.6% of all airline passengers worldwide in 2017, but China ranked a close second at 16.3% . China Southern's aggressive expansion brought it to the number six slot — and will likely take it higher in the years to come , even despite its recent departure from the SkyTeam alliance .

7. Ryanair (171 billion RPKs)

Ryanair isn't known for having the most comfortable cabins . Neither is it known for the sobriety of its passengers . It is, however, known for ferrying a large number of passengers around Europe at low prices. Like Southwest, Ryanair operates only Boeing 737 aircraft on short-haul and medium-haul routes but makes up for the short distance of its flights in passenger volume.

8. China Eastern Airlines (166 billion RPKs)

The second-largest airline in the rapidly growing Chinese market, China Eastern passed Lufthansa for the first time in 2018, flying 166 billion RPKs. China Eastern will soon have even more capacity for growth, as they move in to the new Beijing Daxing International Airport later this year.

9. Air China (161 billion RPKs)

After bumping British Airways out of 10th place in 2017, China's third-largest carrier has now also passed Lufthansa, moving into ninth place for 2018.

10. Lufthansa (159 billion RPKs)

The only European full-service airline to make the top 10, Lufthansa flew 159 billion RPKs in 2018.

Another common measure of the size of an airline is the number of aircraft it operates. Airport Spotting created a list of the world's top 10 largest airline fleets as of the end of 2017. While many of the same carriers appear on this list as the revenue passenger-kilometers list, there are a couple of additional airlines that show up. One doesn't even carry passengers.

• American Airlines (950 aircraft)
• Delta Air Lines (850 aircraft)
• United Airlines (745 aircraft)
• Southwest Airlines (697 aircraft)
• China Southern (545 aircraft)
• China Eastern (486 aircraft)
• Ryanair (413 aircraft)
• Air China (392 aircraft)
• FedEx Express (371 aircraft)
• Turkish Airlines (329 aircraft)

American still holds the top spot, but China Southern may soon dethrone it. By mid-2019, China Southern's fleet had risen to 610 active aircraft , and it announced an ambitious plan last year to have a fleet of more than 1,000 aircraft by 2020.

FedEx's service may be ideal for boxes and other freight, but human passengers aren't likely to be on board all those planes.

Emirates took the number-four spot on revenue passenger-kilometers, but its fleet consists almost entirely of large widebody aircraft, so it accomplished that feat with only 268 aircraft , falling short of Turkish Airlines' 329.

It should be noted that this list contains only aircraft actually operated by each carrier, not regional aircraft operated by airlines under contract with the listed carriers.

Routes Served

Massive airlines like the US Big Three and the major Chinese airlines may move a lot of passengers, but their networks are based primarily on a hub-and-spoke model, limiting the number of direct routes between the other cities in their expansive networks.

Many low-cost carriers, however, arrange their route networks to take passengers from lots of different points to many other points. This pattern is reflected in anna.aero's list of the world's top ten airlines by number of routes for summer of 2019 schedules.

• Ryanair (1,831 routes)
• American Airlines (1,106 routes)
• United Airlines (950 routes)
• easyJet (945 routes)
• Delta Air Lines (939 routes)
• Southwest Airlines (754 routes)
• China Southern Airlines (667 routes)
• China Eastern Airlines (648 routes)
• Wizz Air (615 routes)
• Air China and TUI Airways (tie at 470 routes)

Although the US Big Three and the major Chinese carriers still had lots of routes, the point-to-point networks of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and TUI give the latter group a major advantage in this metric.

(Photo via Getty Images)

For now, American, Delta, United and Southwest sit at or near the top in nearly every metric for measuring the world's largest airlines. However, with the rapid growth of air traffic in the Asia-Pacific region, it's likely that Chinese carriers and others in the region will continue to climb the ranks of the world's largest airlines.

This post has been updated with the latest figures as of 08/03/19.

For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter .

Image by John M Lund Photography Inc / Getty Images

The Largest Airlines in the World

Tops in Passengers, Fleet, and Market Value

Southwest Airlines carried more total system passengers in 2018 than any other U.S. airline. American Airlines carried more passengers on international flights to and from the U.S. in 2018 than any other U.S. or foreign carrier. British Airways carried the most passengers on flights to and from the U.S. of any foreign airline.

A Look at the Numbers

A record 965 million passengers flew on domestic or foreign airlines in 2018, according to the U.S. Transportation Department.

Southwest Airlines carried the most passengers with 163,605,692, and American Airlines had the most international passengers. The top three airlines ranked were Southwest, Delta Air Lines with 152,028,678, American Airlines with 148,180,840.

Key to Success for Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines keeps its costs in check by buying all the same airplane (Boeing 737), for example, so that they can cut the cost of maintaining and outfitting the planes since they are all alike. Southwest has been profitable for 44 years in a row. Having mainly only one model to maintain ensures that the airline's mechanics know how to fix every plane well and that its parts are essentially interchangeable. Another key factor that has increased Southwest's ability to grow was the acquisition of AirTran Airways in 2011. As of 2014, AirTran's routes were fully absorbed into Southwest.

Tops in Market Value

As of August 2018 , Delta Air Lines was at the top of the market value list with a market value of around 37.1 billion U.S. dollars, followed by  Southwest Airlines valued at 30.4 billion dollars. American Airlines fell to fourth places with 19.9 billion dollars value after Ryanair's holdings valued at 21.3 billion dollars.

Top Airport in the World

The top airport in the world is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to the Airports Council International in 2017, Atlanta's airport serviced the most passengers (104 million).

The growth of Delta, which now operates the second-largest fleet on earth, with 5,000 daily flights out of Atlanta is a result of earlier acquisitions, too. Delta’s largest fleet expansion followed the bankruptcy of Pan-Am Airlines in 1991 when Delta took over a selection of its aircraft assets and flight routes. After a more recent merger with Northwest, Delta briefly held the top spot on this list with Delta’s 1,280 aircraft. But, it was surpassed in 2015 by American Airlines.

As for where in the U.S. that more passengers boarded the most international flights, that was at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport . American and Delta both operate major hubs out of JFK Airport.

International Competitors

American-based airlines may dominate the friendly skies now, but China's airline industry is taking off. Atlanta, Georgia, may have the busiest airport in the world, but not far behind is Beijing Capital International Airport with 95 million passengers per year. There are a staggering 182 commercial airports in China, the world’s most populous nation.

According to statistics compiled by Brand Finance, Chinese carriers are rising in value far greater than their American counterparts. Chinese Airline growth has increased by up to 21 percent. China Southern’s brand value has risen by 10 percent in 2018 to $4.1 billion and remains the leader in the Chinese market, ahead of China Eastern , whose value increased by 21 percent to $3.8 billion. Air China comes up third, with a 19 percent increase to $3.4 billion.

For comparison, although American and Delta are industry leaders, American has faced a 7 percent decrease in value in the last 12 months and Delta has gone down by 6 percent.

Another strong competitor, German airliner Lufthansa, has seen its brand value grow tremendously by 29 percent to $2.9 billion. It is being viewed as one of the fastest growing brands in the world. Lufthansa’s sudden boom is likely tied to the collapse of Air Berlin, which increased Lufthansa's market share and the expansion of its flight portfolio.

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• The Largest Airlines in the World

The last decade has been characterized by a steady growth in air travel. Several airlines have positioned themselves as the main players in air travel and preferred carriers throughout the world. The largest airline in the world by passengers carried is the US-based American Airlines. Some of the world's other largest airlines are listed below. 

The World's Largest Airlines

1. american airlines - 198.7 million.

With nearly 200 million passengers served annually, American Airlines is the largest airline in the world. The airline offers more than 6,500 daily flights to over 330 destinations around the world. American Airlines is expected to dominate air travel in the coming years given its plans to increase its fleet size by over 100 aircraft.

2. Delta Air Lines - 183.7 million 

Delta Air Lines is a large American airline. With 183.7 million passengers served annually, Delta Air Lines is the world's second-largest airline. The airline is headquartered at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is the busiest airport in the United States and one of the busiest airports in the world . Delta flies to six continents. 

3. Southwest Airlines - 151.8 million 

Southwest Airlines is the third largest airline in the world by passenger count. Founded in 1966, Southwest Airlines has grown in fleet size and passenger numbers, and currently has a network of 101 destinations in 40 states. 

4. United Airlines - 143.2 million

United Airlines is a large American airline with its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. It was founded as Varney Air Lines in 1926. Though the airline has eight hubs in total, the largest hub is at Chicago-O'Hare airport. United has a fleet size of 758 aircraft.

5. Ryanair - 119.8 million 

Ryanair is a budget airline based in Ireland. It is the largest European airline in the world. Ryanair serves a network of 34 countries, especially in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Ryanair’s largest bases are located in Dublin and London. 

6. China Southern Airlines - 84.9 million

China Southern Airlines is a Chinese airline established in 1998. It is the largest airline in China by revenue, fleet, and passenger size. China Southern Airlines operates over 2,000 flights to 210 destinations in 35 countries. It ranks as the sixth largest airline in the world. 

7. China Eastern Airlines - 80.9 million

China Eastern Airlines is the second busiest airline in China, with an annual passenger load of around 80.9 million people. Together with China Southern Airlines and Air China, these three top Chinese airlines are referred to as the “Big Three.”

8. easyJet - 73.1 million 

easyJet is Europe's second largest airline. This UK-based airline flies to over 30 countries. The airline has existed since 1995. 

9. Turkish Airlines - 62.8 million

Turkish Airlines is a Turkey-based airline that flies all over the world. The airline has been in existence for 85 years but has seen a rapid expansion over the past few years. Today, it flies large cargo aircraft to more than 73 countries worldwide. 

10. Lufthansa - 62.4 million 

Lufthansa is a large German airline and the tenth largest airline in the world. Lufthansa is one of the founders of the Star Alliance group, alongside United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Thai Airways, and Air Canada. 

A Note On Sourcing

Airlines are ranked by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The ranking process considers several factors, including the demand for air transport, supply, and performance of the airline industry.

The World's Largest Airlines by Passengers Carried

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Simple Flying

Top 10: the world's largest airlines by revenue.

The US ‘big three’ happen to also be the world's top three!

The article highlights some of the largest public airlines based on revenue reported as of January. The data is based on Forbes’ report of the top ten public carriers in the world. Let’s get started.

10 Air Canada

Air Canada is the flag carrier and largest airline in Canada in terms of passenger volume. The airline was established in 1937 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. The airline operates scheduled and charter services to over 225 destinations worldwide, with a healthy fleet of over 350 aircraft. Air Canada is one of the founding members of Star Alliance, one of three major airline alliances.

The airline has three major hubs, namely Montreal-Trudeau (YUL), Toronto-Pearson (YYZ), and Vancouver (YVR). Being tenth on our list, the airline has a revenue of $12.7 billion with assets of $21.8 billion. The airline reported a loss of $1.3 billion on the recorded revenue. The airline employs nearly 20,000 people.

9 China Southern Airlines

China Southern is the largest airline in China and one of the big three Chinese carriers besides Air China and China Eastern Airlines. The airline was established in 1988, and it is Asia’s largest airline in terms of fleet size and passengers carried. The airline operates scheduled services from its major hubs at Guangzhou (CAN) and Beijing Daxing (PXX) airports.

China Southern has a massive fleet of over 900 aircraft and operates services to over 215 destinations worldwide. Being ninth on our list, the airline has a revenue of $12.9 billion with assets of $44.9 billion. The airline reported a loss of $4.8 billion on the recorded revenue. The airline employs over 100,000 people.

8 Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the flag carrier of Turkey and the world’s largest airline by destinations served. The airline was established in 1933 and is headquartered at Ataturk Airport (ISL) in Istanbul, Turkey. The airline operates scheduled services to over 350 destinations worldwide with a healthy fleet of over 400 aircraft. Turkish Airlines flies to 126 countries, more than any other airline in the world.

The airline primarily operates from its hub at Istanbul Airport (IST). It is a part of the Star Alliance network. The airline is eighth on our list, with a revenue of $19.7 billion and assets worth $32 billion. The airline reported a profit of $2.8 billion on the recorded revenue. The airline employs over 40,000 people.

7 International Airlines Group

The International Airlines Group (IAG) is a multinational airline holding company headquartered in London, England. The group also has a registered office in Madrid, Spain. The company was established in 2011 following the British Airways (BA) merger with Iberia. Apart from the two airlines, other prominent airline subsidiaries in the group are Aer Lingus and Vueling.

With multiple full-service, low-cost, and cargo operators, the company operates to hundreds of destinations worldwide. Being number seven on our list, the IAG has a revenue of $24.3 billion with assets of $42 billion. The airline reported a profit of $470 million on the recorded revenue. The group employs over 66,000 people.

6 Southwest Airlines

The world’s largest low-cost carrier, Southwest Airlines , was founded (as Air Southwest) in 1967. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the airline primarily offers domestic services to 42 states nationwide. The airline uses a point-to-point business model with numerous rolling hubs nationwide. The airline operates scheduled services to over 120 destinations in the US, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Southwest operates a single type of aircraft, the Boeing 737, with over 800 aircraft in service. Southwest Airlines’ financial numbers are comparable to those of the IAG group. The airline has a revenue of $24.8 billion with assets of $35.6 billion. The airline reported a profit of $650 million on the recorded revenue. The airline employs just over 66,000 people.

5 Air France-KLM Group

The Air France-KLM Group is a multinational airline holding company headquartered in France. The company was established in 2004 as a result of a mutual agreement between the flag carriers of France and the Netherlands. The company also has minority shares in various European and African airlines, including Air Mauritius, Air Tahiti, Kenya Airways, and Royal Air Maroc.

The company has primary offices in Paris and the Netherlands. Being number five on our list, the Air France-KLM Group has a revenue of $29.4 billion with assets of $34.8 billion. The airline reported a profit of $970 million on the recorded revenue. The group employs nearly 80,000 people.

4 Lufthansa Group

German-based Lufthansa Airlines is the flag carrier of Germany and the second-largest airline in Europe in terms of passenger volume. The airline was established in 1955 and is headquartered in Cologne, Germany. The airline operates scheduled services to over 310 destinations worldwide with a fleet of over 275 aircraft. Lufthansa is one of five founding members of Star Alliance.

The airline primarily operates from its two hubs: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) in Germany. Coming in fourth place on our list, the airline has a revenue of $35.8 billion with assets of $48.8 billion. The airline reported a profit of $940 million on the recorded revenue. The Lufthansa Group is one of the largest employers in Europe, with over 110,000 employees worldwide.

3 United Airlines Holdings

One of the ‘big three’ airlines in the US, United Airlines is a full-service airline. The airline was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The airline offers domestic and international services to over 350 destinations. Following its merger with Continental Airlines in 2010, it became the third-largest airline in the world by number of routes and fleet size. United operates a fleet of over 900 aircraft, a mix of wide and narrowbody types.

United has several major hubs throughout the country, and it is the founding member of Star Alliance. Number three on our list, the airline has a revenue of $48.8 billion with assets of $70.4 billion. The airline reported a profit of $1.9 billion on the recorded revenue. The United Airlines group employs just under 93,000 people.

2 American Airlines Group

Another of the ‘big three’ airlines in the US, American Airlines is one of the largest airlines in the world by scheduled passenger volume and total revenue. The airline was founded in 1926 and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. The airline offers domestic and international services to over 350 destinations. American Airlines operates a fleet of over 950 aircraft.

Like United, American also has several major hubs throughout the country, with Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) being the largest. The airline handles nearly half a million passengers daily. Number two on our list, the airline has a revenue of $52.3 billion with assets of $66.8 billion. The airline reported a profit of $1.8 billion on the recorded revenue. The American Airlines Group employs a whopping 130,000 people.

1 Delta Air Lines

Topping the list is none other than the mighty Delta Air Lines . The third of the US “big three,” Delta is one of the world's oldest airlines in operation. The airline was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Delta Air Lines offers domestic and international services to over 325 destinations with a massive fleet of over 950 aircraft.

Interested in similar content? Check out our complete guides section here.

Similar to United and American, Delta also operates from major hubs in the US, with Atlanta (ATL) being the largest. On the top of the list, the airline has a revenue of $54 billion with assets of $73.1 billion. The airline reported a profit of $1.9 billion on the recorded revenue. The airline employs over 95,000 people.

What are your thoughts on the largest airlines by revenue? Tell us in the comments section.

Source: Forbes

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The 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World (From a Points and Miles Perspective)

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

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1. Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) on Singapore Airlines: 9,537 Miles

What happened to cathay pacific, 2. singapore (sin) to newark (ewr) on singapore airlines: 9,535 miles, 3. doha (doh) to auckland (akl) on qatar airways: 9,032 miles, 4. perth (per) to london (lhr) on qantas: 9,009 miles, 5. melbourne (mel) to dallas (dfw) on qantas: 8,992 miles, 6. auckland (akl) to new york (jfk) on air new zealand : 8,828 miles, 7. dubai (dxb) to auckland (akl) on emirates: 8,824 miles, 8. singapore (sin) to los angeles (lax) on singapore airlines: 8,770 miles, 9. bengaluru (blr) to san francisco (sfo) on air india: 8,701 miles, 10. houston (iah) to sydney (syd) on united airlines: 8,596 miles, mapping the flights, boeing 777-200lr, boeing 787-9 dreamliner, airbus a350-900ulr, airbus a350-1000, airbus a380-800, final thoughts.

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If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re a true points-and-miles geek, here’s a quick test:

You’ve just booked a nearly 10,000-mile, 17-hour ultra-long-haul flight. What’s your immediate reaction?

• You cringe at the thought of most of a day spent in a cramped economy seat.
• You pop the bubbly, either literally or metaphorically.

If you answered the latter, you’re probably the kind of travel-hacking ninja who’s been ecstatic about the increasing number of ultra-long-haul flights. Heck, you may have already joined the legions of points nerds who go out of their way to hop on the longest commercial flights in the world. (Guilty!)

So why would anyone willingly subject themselves to nearly 10,000 miles and more than 17 hours on a tin can 40,000 feet in the air? Because they’re probably not flying economy.

For points-and-miles geeks, jetting around the world on one of the longest nonstop flights in existence means they get to maximize their time on the truly fantastic products they and their friends aspire to. It’s a big redemption win for hard-earned miles!

To that end, we’re diving into the 10 longest nonstop flights in the world and what they’re worth from a points perspective — along with fun facts about the aircraft primed to get you to your destination.

And if you didn’t pass the points-and-miles geek test this time, one of these fabulous redemptions might convert you!

The Top 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World

Airlines use nautical miles, not on-the-ground miles. Every nautical mile is equal to a little over 1.15 land-based, or statute, miles. However, for the purposes of this article, we’re sticking to the more familiar statute miles unless otherwise stated. We’re also not including the return flights on the same routes.

Scheduled flight time: 18 hours, 50 minutes Flight Number : SQ 24 Aircraft:  Airbus   A350-900ULR Best business class redemption: 111,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards , Brex Rewards , Capital One Miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy )

Though it was temporarily dethroned last winter by Cathay Pacific’s improvised Hong Kong-to-New York route (keep reading to find out why), Singapore Airlines has again regained its crown for longest-distance commercial flight.

• Watch all 7 movies in the “Mission Impossible” franchise, “Top Gun,” and “Top Gun: Maverick” and still have about 25 minutes left over — or enough time to catch much of the 2005 episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” with that infamous couch-jumping interview with Tom Cruise.
• Mileage-wise, drive from Portland, Maine, to Portland, Oregon, and back again — and then turn around and drive to Portland, Oregon 1 more time.

The A350-900ULR on this route uses 94 premium economy and 67 business class seats.

These incredibly long flights halfway around the world won’t pay for themselves! Before you pack your bags, think about what you’re packing in your wallet: Check out our guide to the best credit cards for travelers .

Though Singapore Airlines has long ruled the roost of long-distance flights, it wasn’t on top from 2022 to early 2023. That’s when Cathay Pacific flew A350-1000s from New York City (JFK) to Hong Kong (HKG), listed at 10,326 miles for 17 hours and 50 minutes. Cathay Pacific pilots relied on strong but seasonal tailwinds to make the flight possible without consuming too much fuel.

Cathay Pacific chose this incredibly long flight path because of the Russia-Ukraine war. The short-lived route took planes over the Atlantic Ocean, over the U.K., through southern Europe, and over parts of Central Asia to avoid flying through Russian airspace.

Japan Airlines similarly did a temporary, much longer rerouting for flights from Tokyo to London for the same reason, going eastbound over the Pacific instead of westbound through Russia. Cathay Pacific has since returned to a more conventional flight plan over the Pacific with a shorter official flight distance of just over 8,000 miles.

• In terms of time, the temporary Cathay Pacific JFK to HKG route was long enough to watch all 10 of the “Star Trek” feature films in which James T. Kirk is the lead character (i.e., all of the original series and J.J. Abrams-reboot movies but omitting the “Star Trek: The Next Generation” films), with 1 minute to spare.
• It was also about the same distance as driving from the southernmost point in the continental U.S. — Key West, Florida — to the northernmost U.S. settlement —- Utqiagvik, Alaska, formerly known as Barrow — then deciding it was too cold and driving back down to sunny San Antonio, Texas, instead. By the way, you should never attempt to drive to Utqiagvik, even in a snowcat, during the short window when the sea ice is solid enough for some crossings.

Want to make the whole longest-flight-in-the-world debate even more confusing? Despite airlines’ listed flight distances for routes, pilots routinely take advantage of conditions like jet streams, which can shorten the flight time but increase the distance. So, though the official flight distance of SQ 24 is around 9,500 statute miles, in reality, it’s not unheard of for pilots on the route to actually cover more like 10,700 statute miles.)

Bottom line? Don’t take “official” records for longest flights too seriously.

Scheduled flight time: 18 hours, 25 minutes Flight number: SQ 22 Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR Best business class redemption: 111,500 Singapore KrisFlyer miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Brex Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all of the original “Harry Potter” movies (“Sorcerer’s Stone” to “Death Hallows: Part 2”) without credits, with 13 minutes left over, or about enough time for a quick meal with the Yule Ball dinner scene on pause during “Goblet of Fire.”
• Mileage-wise, drive from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Los Angeles to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and back — and then do most of the round-trip journey all over again. (Get your portkey ready as you near Tucson, Arizona, for the fourth time.)

This flight crosses a seemingly impossible 10 time zones!

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 20 minutes Flight number: QR 920 Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 Best business class redemption: 140,000 Avios plus about $150 (transfer from British Airways Executive Club, Aer Lingus AerClub , Iberia Plus , Bilt Rewards , Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

Qatar resumed the longest nonstop route in its network on September 1, 2023, after putting it on hold for 3 years during the COVID-19 pandemic. For its return, the route now features Qatar’s newest plane, the Airbus A350-1000.

• Watch every Roger Moore James Bond movie, then throw in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” You could still get in 2 007-minute bathroom breaks.
• In terms of distance, you could drive 3 times between New York City (the site of the opening scene of Moore’s first Bond movie, “Live and Let Die”) to San Francisco (as in Moore’s final scene as Bond in “A View to a Kill”). You’d have about enough leftover miles to make it from San Francisco to San Diego and back once, futilely searching for “Moonraker” villain Hugo Drax’s “California” mansion (which was actually a chateau in France).

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: QF 9 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 85,000 American miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption: 115,000 American miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 6 “Rocky” movies (including the 3 “Creed” spinoffs) and still have enough time to watch most of the “30 for 30” episode “42 to 1,” about Mike Tyson’s first defeat in the ring.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the steps Rocky ran up (at the Philadelphia Museum of Art) to the site of Rocky’s last fight (Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas) and back nearly twice.

Scheduled Flight Time:  17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: QF 21 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 55,000 Alaska miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption: 70,000 Alaska miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 5 feature films in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise , followed by both “Fantastic Beasts” movies that Johnny Depp appears in, leaving you about an hourlong break from your own personal Deppfest.
• Mileage-wise, make a round trip from pirate Jean Lafitte’s favorite haunt, New Orleans, to Pittsburgh, home of baseball’s Pirates, 4 times.

Qantas plans to use the A350-1000 to fly 2 of the world’s longest routes, Sydney to New York and Sydney to London, as early as 2025.

Scheduled flight time: 17 hours, 50 minutes Flight number: NZ 2 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Best business class redemption: 120,000 ANA miles one-way (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and “The Hobbit” trilogy (theatrical editions) and still have about 40 minutes to spare.
• Mileage-wise, drive from Gimli, Manitoba, to Drake Bay, Costa Rica, and back — and still have time for a detour through part of the Rocky Mountains (which you can pretend are the Misty Mountains).

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 10 minutes Flight number: EK 448 Aircraft:  Airbus A380-800 Best business class redemption: 85,000 Japan Airlines miles plus a large cash surcharge one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

Emirates used to fly this route on the Boeing 777-200LR but is currently operating the larger, 2-level Airbus A380.

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Indiana Jones” franchise, plus all 3 movies in the “Jurassic Park” franchise (not including the “Jurassic World” sequels) with 1 minute of time to yourself free from adventuring scientists.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the state of Indiana to the final resting place of the Ark of the Covenant (Roswell, New Mexico) and back nearly 4 times.

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 50 minutes Flight number: SQ 38 Aircraft:  Airbus A350-900ULR Best business class redemption : 135,000 Asiana miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy) or 200,000 United miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy) Best first class redemption : 180,000 Asiana miles one-way (transfer from Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 3 movies in “The Godfather” trilogy (original cuts), “Goodfellas,” “Casino,” and “The Departed” and still have a little under an hour to ponder the morality of your life choices.
• Mileage-wise, you could make the trip between Little Italy in New York City to Las Vegas nearly 3.5 times. Don’t forget to take the cannoli!

Scheduled flight time:  17 hours, 40 minutes Flight number: AI 175 Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR Best business class redemption: 100,000 Air Canada points plus about $35 in taxes and fees (transfer from Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Die Hard” franchise, plus “The Fifth Element,” “The Sixth Sense,” and “12 Monkeys” for a Bruce Willis festival. Then, top it off with “Over the Hedge,” in which Willis plays a raccoon.
• Distance-wise, you could recreate the real-life trajectory of Bruce Willis by driving from his hometown of Carney’s Point, New Jersey, to Hollywood, California — 3 times.

The ancient Indian city of Bangalore officially changed its name back to its traditional, non-Anglicized Kannada name, Bengaluru, in November 2014, though many still refer to it by its colonial name.

Scheduled flight time: 17 hours, 35 minutes Flight number: UA 101 Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Best business class redemption: 250,000 United miles one-way (transfer from Bilt Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, or Marriott Bonvoy)

United resurrected this route on October 28, 2023, after putting it on hold for 2 years because of the pandemic.

• Watch all 5 movies in the “Scream” franchise, then all 5 movies in the “Scary Movie” franchise.
• Mileage-wise, drive from the northern Illinois suburbs (where the granddaddy of slasher flicks, “Halloween,” was set) to Santa Rosa, California (the hub of most of the original “Scream” filming locations), and back. And then, like any horror franchise, do it all over again.

We ranked flights by distance rather than flight time because flight time can vary significantly for many reasons. Please note that because flight times vary so widely from flight to flight, the actual time you spend in the air will likely differ from the listed time if you take one of these trips.

We listed flights by the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth’s surface, also known as the great circle distance. This can also differ from the actual distance for reasons including wind, severe weather, and the need to avoid closed airspace. 

Need trivia to throw out at your next AvGeek party? The record for the longest nonstop commercial flight in terms of time in the air is held by Qantas for its August 30, 1943, flight in a Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane from what is now Sri Lanka to Australia.

It took 32 hours and 9 minutes to travel 3,512 statute miles. The route was nicknamed “The Double Sunrise” because it experienced 2 sunrises per flight — scheduled that way so that it flew through Japanese-occupied territory at night.

About the Aircraft

As planes become more fuel-efficient and fuel costs remain relatively low, we’ll continue to see big competition for a spot on the leaderboard for the longest nonstop flights in the world.

Boeing and Airbus continue to find new ways to increase the range and passenger capacity of their aircraft, allowing airlines to turn a profit from these ultra-long-haul flights.

These aircraft (currently) make up the roster for the longest nonstop flights in the world:

• Boeing 777-200LR — Air India
• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner — Air New Zealand, Qantas, United
• Airbus A350-900ULR — Singapore Airlines
• Airbus A350-1000 — Qatar Airways, Qantas (by 2025)
• Airbus A380 — Emirates

Range: 9,845 miles/8,555 nautical miles/15,843 kilometers Capacity: 317 passengers Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine:  GE90-115B turbofan

The Boeing 777 commercial series is made up of 3 long-range, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners. Boeing says that the 777 aircraft provides considerably improved reach and increased revenue potential.

In 2015, General Electric proclaimed the GE90-115B turbofan engine the most powerful engine in the world . The GE90 series held the title of history’s largest aviation engine until the introduction of the GE9X, which began flight testing in 2018. The Boeing 777 series has also won several awards for its interior cabin design and passenger satisfaction.

The 777-200LR (the “LR” is for “Long Range”) is the aircraft of choice for Emirates’ Dubai-to-Auckland route and Air India’s Bengaluru-to-San Francisco route. Air India flies a 777-200LR previously flown by Delta Air Lines for this journey.

Range:  8,786 miles/7,635 nautical miles/4,140 kilometers Capacity: 290 passengers Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.85/652 mph Engine: GEnx-1B/Trent 1000

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner series comprises 3 midsize, wide-body, twin-engine jet airliners. Combined, the 787 series currently services over 170 nonstop flights worldwide. The 787-9, however, is the only Dreamliner to make it on the list of longest nonstop flights in the world.

Boeing says that its 787 series provides advantages. including higher distance range and fuel efficiency, more cargo volume, lower operating costs, and a more reliable aircraft.

The 787-9 is the aircraft of choice for all Qantas Perth-to-London and Melbourne-to-Dallas routes, and United’s Houston-to-Sydney flight.

Range:  11,163 miles/9,700 nautical miles/17,964 kilometers Capacity: 161 (SQ configuration — premium economy and business class only) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84

Airbus introduced the A350 series in response to the success of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner, and the A350-900 is the first member of the company’s Extra Wide Body, or XWB, a family of next-generation, high-efficiency, high-capacity passenger jets for long-haul flights.

The A350-900’s first test flight was in 2013, and it flew its first commercial flight (with Qatar Airways) in 2015. Currently, however, Singapore Airlines is the only airline to fly the A350-900ULR version of the -900.

That A350-900ULR variant (“ULR” for “Ultra Long Range”) is a lighter aircraft that can fly farther and is more cost-efficient than large double-decker jets like the 747 or A380. Because of the materials used, there’s also less maintenance required — an important aspect for global airlines. Passengers find the engine noise substantially quieter , too.

The main feature of the ULR is that the fuel tanks hold more fuel, critical for ultra-long-haul flights. In addition to extra fuel storage, there are aerodynamic improvements that allow the aircraft to serve routes that previously would have required a technical stop.

The A350-900ULR is the aircraft of choice for Singapore Airlines’ routes from Singapore to New York, Newark, and Los Angeles.

Range:  10,001 miles/8,700 nautical miles/16,112 kilometers Capacity: 480 passengers maximum (327 on Qatar Airways) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.89/683 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97

Qatar Airways launched the first A350-1000 route in February 2018, traveling from Doha, Qatar, to London with 46 Qsuites and 281 economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration.

Measuring 23 feet longer than the A350-900, the fuel-efficient A350-1000 is the largest version of the A350. It can squeeze in more dedicated passenger space, has a more powerful engine, and fits in more comfort-focused technology like climate zones, improved air circulation and filtration, and ambient lighting designed to reduce jet lag.

With a maximum range that’s 1,000 nautical miles shorter than the A350-900ULR’s, the A350-1000 hasn’t received Airbus designation as a ULR model.

Qantas has ordered A350-1000s that it plans on putting into service starting in 2025 . Singapore, which has today’s largest fleet of A350s, has standing orders with Airbus for dozens of A350s, with a clause that allows it to pick from either the -900 or -1000 variants closer to delivery.

Range:  9,206 miles/8,000 nautical miles/14,800 kilometers Capacity: 555 passengers maximum (489 on Emirates) Maximum Cruising Speed: Mach 0.88/675 mph Engine: Rolls-Royce Trent 900 or GE-Pratt & Whitney GP-7200 turbofans

Also called the Super Jumbo, the Airbus A380-800 is the largest commercial passenger airplane in the world. It’s a double-decker that began development all the way back in the 1990s as a direct challenger to the then-dominant Boeing 747 when it came to long-haul flights. Early company visions of the plane even included the possibility of onboard shops, restaurants, and casinos.

The A380-800, sometimes called the A388, was the passenger variant of the 2 A380 models Airbus originally offered. The other option was the freighter version, the A380F.

Singapore Airlines was the first airline to fly the A380 in October 2007, with Emirates eventually amassing the largest fleet of A380s and becoming the leading A380 customer by far, accounting for nearly half of all orders of the A380.

But the shifting realities of the industry didn’t mesh well with a jet even larger than the 747, and the last A380 rolled off the production line in 2021, eclipsed by smaller, more efficient planes like the A330, A350, and 787.

The competition for the top spot on the list of the longest nonstop flights in the world won’t end any time soon. The only question is: How will the airlines choose to get there?

Within the past few years, we’ve seen the final flight of the last U.S. carrier-operated Boeing 747, once the hallmark of long-haul flights. In 2021, we saw several carriers announce plans to move away from the behemoth A380 to save on fuel and match current passenger demands. Moving forward, will airlines shy away from enormous jets in search of slimmer, more efficient aircraft? Or will the so-called superjumbos also evolve, eventually providing a more efficient and profitable means of carrying passengers around the world?

From a points perspective, we certainly hope jumbo jets make a comeback at some point. The optimized business and first class cabins of the more upscale carriers are every miles chaser’s dream.

Rewarding your hard-earned miles with 17 hours in business class on a 787-9 is unbeatable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the longest flight time in the world.

The longest nonstop commercial flight in the world is usually scheduled to last 18 hours and 50 minutes from Singapore (SIN) to New York City (JFK), serviced by Singapore Airlines.

What is the longest flight in the world by distance?

The longest flight in the world by distance is Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) on Singapore Airlines, officially measuring 9,537 miles.

What plane can fly the farthest in the world?

The current record for the longest-distance commercial flight is held by a Boeing 777-200LR for a journey in 2005. This flight from Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) to London Heathrow (LHR) took the long way (vs. great circle distance) and was logged at 21,602 km (13,423 miles/11,664 nautical miles).

What is the largest plane in the world?

The largest commercial jet airliner in the world by capacity is the double-decker Airbus A380-800, which can hold up to 863 passengers. It’s also the biggest in terms of wingspan, at 261.7 feet. But the Airbus Super Jumbo loses out in length to the Boeing 747-8I (“I” for “Intercontinental”), which is 250 feet long, compared to the A380’s 238 feet.

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An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

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These Are the World’s Largest Airports—and More Than Half Are in the USA

Some of the world’s largest hubs definitely aren’t the world’s busiest—and vice versa. when it comes to sheer landmass, these are the most sprawling air travel complexes out there..

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An airplane takes off from the biggest airport in the United States. Recognize the view?

Christopher Ott/Unsplash

When people refer to “big” airports, they typically think of large hubs with huge numbers of passengers transiting through. But bigger doesn’t always mean busier. The largest airports in the world are those that occupy the highest total acreage of land. And yes, some of the biggest are also some of the world’s busiest—but not always. Some are hubs that have big hopes for future growth, while others have interesting stories behind how and why they acquired and maintain such a large footprint.

And frequent travelers may be surprised by who’s in and who’s not. Take Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, which for most of the past quarter-century has held the title of world’s busiest airport by passenger count, but—with 4,700 acres or about 7.5 square miles of land—doesn’t come close to getting in the top 10 in terms of area. Chicago O’Hare, also one of the most heavily traveled hubs , occupies less than a quarter of Denver International Airport’s property, which, at 53 square miles, is the biggest airport in the United States.

There are many reasons some airports are really big in land space—the most obvious being the old real estate mantra: “location, location, location.” Six of the ten largest airfields are in the U.S.—perhaps unsurprisingly, two are in Texas—and, more specifically in the south and the west, where airport developers were able to grab more land than they needed initially in case they wanted to expand, or simply to serve as a buffer zone. (Once an airport is built and is situated within a surrounding community, it’s almost impossible to expand its footprint given the local opposition this would incur.)

So, what are the behemoths that make up the list of world’s largest airports? Since there’s no single, authoritative source for this data, here is our ranking based on the airports’ own published dimensions, local government data, and other sources, such as Guinness World Records.

What is the world’s largest airport?

The world’s biggest airport is King Fahd International Airport, in Damman, Saudi Arabia. The gargantuan hub improbably tops the list, a status bestowed by the Guinness World Records , but its purported size is so mind-boggling that it begs some additional research—its 300-square-mile girth would be the equivalent of an entire country, in fact it is larger than neighboring Bahrain. One possible explanation: during the Gulf War in the late 1990s the desert airfield vastly expanded its land holdings to accommodate American military operations, and an air base is still situated on that land, according to militarybases.com . The site is also home to a mosque, which is located over a parking garage, and a school, according to other published reports.

The 10 largest airports in the world

Off the coast of the Persian Gulf in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, lies the world’s biggest airport—King Fahd International.

Courtesy of Dammam Airports Company

1. King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudia Arabia (DMM)—300 square miles

Despite its massive size, on the civilian side, King Fahd International Airport , with 10 million passengers annually, is a much smaller player; the other main Saudi Arabia airports, in Riyadh and Jeddah, outrank it in passenger traffic. On its website, the airport provides the dimensions for its commercial airport footprint within the larger 300-square-mile area: around 14 square miles, which still puts it in the top 20 biggest airports. But a spokesperson for Guinness World Records confirmed to AFAR that King Fahd is indeed regarded as the world’s number one largest airport in their book, based on the land it occupies.

At 53 square miles, Denver International Airport is the biggest airport in the United States and the second largest in the world.

Shutterstock

2. Denver International Airport (DEN)—53 square miles

Denver International Airport quite literally embraces wide-open spaces—it’s so big that it’s more than double the size of the next largest U.S. airport, Dallas/Fort Worth. Why all this room? When the airport was built in the early 1990s, the city chose a site that was 25 miles from downtown, 19 miles farther than the airport it was replacing, Stapleton. The extra breathing room allowed it to build six runways—with enough space to add another six in the future—and the Denver hub recently completed a terminal expansion that added 39 new gates bringing the total number of gates across the airport’s three terminals to 161 (a 30 percent increase over its previous capacity). The airport also now has three outdoor decks, post-security, with views of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado plains in the distance, as well as family seating areas, nursing rooms, new bathroom facilities, charging stations, and workstations. There is an 82,000-square-foot outdoor plaza that’s open to travelers and the general public.

Kuala Lumper International Airport in Malaysia plans to quadruple the number of passengers it welcomes annually.

amirraizat/Shutterstock

3. Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)—39 square miles

The Malaysian capital’s international air gateway is one of the world’s biggest when considering the actual size of its property, dwarfing some of the better-known airports in the region, like Singapore’s award-winning Changi (often recognized as the world’s best airport). Why? Since opening 25 years ago, on a large swath of former farmland, Kuala Lumpur International Airport has had big plans to expand—and now, with a new terminal on the drawing board, the airport will eventually be able to handle up to 100 million passengers a year, up from the 24 million that it accommodated in 2022. The airport serves as a key hub for Malaysia Airlines and low-cost carrier AirAsia and is served by numerous foreign lines. A high-speed train connects the airport to the city center in 28 minutes.

The recently opened Istanbul Airport doesn’t just look cool, it’s chockablock with eateries, shops, and services for global travelers.

Artem Bryzgalov/Unsplash

4. Istanbul Airport (IST)—29.5 square miles

Opened in 2019 amid great fanfare —and with bold ambitions to become the world’s biggest airport serving 200 million passengers a year—the new Istanbul Airport is 22 miles outside Istanbul, with ample room to expand. IST stands out with its modern design, its focus on sustainability, and architectural flourishes like a tulip-shaped air traffic control tower. Inside the vast terminal, travelers can take advantage of Turkish Airlines’ spacious lounges as well as relaxation areas, and a wide range of eateries. The airport is slated to be fully completed by 2025 and will ultimately feature six runways, putting it on the path to be a major global player.

Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is one of the biggest and busiest airports in the country—and it’s also bigger than Manhattan in New York.

5. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)—26 square miles

Long dominated by the world’s largest carrier, American Airlines, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has a footprint that is bigger than the island of Manhattan—it even has its own zip code—and five terminals with a total of 168 gates. It is also a model for sustainability, with plans for a zero-carbon electrical plant that will help it achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. With seven operational runways, the airport is able to handle more than 73 million fliers a year, who no doubt appreciate DFW’s wide array of food choices and the opportunities to work it off, with an internal walking path and yoga studio.

Approximately 6,000 acres of this Fort Myers hub is protected swamp land.

6. Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida (RSW)—21.2 square miles

While not large in passenger numbers—it handled only 10 million fliers last year— Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers is well positioned as the gateway to Florida’s southwest region, serving such destinations as the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area, as well as Naples, Marco Island, and Punta Gorda. Its landmass, though, makes it the third biggest airport in the U.S. after Denver and DFW. So, what’s with the big footprint? Turns out that some 6,000 acres of its total land area has been conserved as protected swamp lands and set aside for environmental protection purposes.

Orlando International Airport’s massive size is a direct reflection of the popularity of this Central Florida playground.

7. Orlando International Airport (MCO)—20.7 square miles

Located six miles from downtown Orlando, this airport is the main international gateway for central Florida and its world-famous theme parks. Orlando International Airport has scheduled nonstop service from 48 international destinations, bringing hordes of tourists from throughout the world to experience this popular family-friendly resort destination. Last year the airport opened the new $2.8 billion Terminal C and the private high-speed rail line Brightline just unveiled a station at the airport.

The striking Eero Saarinen-designed main terminal at Washington Dulles International Airport.

8. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)—18.7 square miles

When Dulles airport opened in a rural area of Northern Virginia in the early 1960s, its expansive property was seen as a drawback; 30 miles from the capital, Beltway insiders regarded it as something of a white elephant, despite its striking Eero Saarinen-designed terminal. Now a significant gateway for United Airlines, the airport is a major East Coast international hub with 61 international destinations. And while it can still take nearly an hour to drive there from the district, a Metro line expansion now offers a public transit alternative .

Beijing’s newest—and biggest—airport is a Zaha Hadid-designed masterpiece.

9. Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)—18 square miles

“The biggest airport in the world” is how Beijing Daxing International Airport describes itself on its website. Well, not quite, but it is definitely in mega-airport territory, with what it rightfully can claim is one of the world’s largest single-building terminals, spanning 7.5 million square feet—the equivalent of 98 soccer fields. The airport, designed by the late renowned architect Zaha Hadid , opened in 2019, and ultimately it aims to handle 100 million travelers by 2040. Plans are underway to expand not only the passenger facilities, but the number of runways, from the current four to seven.

Texas has nothing if not space for large airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

10. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH)—17.1 square miles

When Houston civic leaders purchased land for a new airport in the late 1950s, they were already thinking big—and in the ensuing decades its real estate has expanded to its present size. George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston now features five runways that can handle a high number of long-distance flights to Latin America and beyond, with Houston serving as a main hub for United Airlines. Further expansion plans include a new combined terminal D and E that is scheduled to open by early 2025.

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World's Last Martin JRM Mars Water Bomber Donated To Pima Air & Space Museum

• Historic Martin JRM Mars waterbombers find new homes at prestigious aviation museums in the US and Canada by 2024.
• The aircraft, originally used for military transport, were converted to waterbombers to combat forest fires, showcasing their versatility.
• Coulson Aviation's commitment to fighting fires with their fleet, including the Martin Mars, highlights their dedication to global firefighting efforts.

One of only five Martin JRM Mars flying boats ever produced will be bound for the Pima Air And Space Museum in Tuscon, Arizona, this year, its new home. The Philippine Mars will head to Tuscon before the end of 2024, and according to Coulson Aviation, it plans to donate another JRM Mars, the Hawaii Mars, to the BC Aviation Museum in Sidney, British Colombia. Wayne Coulson, CEO of Coulson Group, released this statement regarding the move:

This has been an exciting month for both Martin Mars waterbombers. As a fitting tribute to their years of service and years of hard work by many people in BC and the U.S., we are pleased to see both Mars aircraft landing to rest at world-class institutions in 2024.

Manufactured in the 1940s, the Mars aircraft operated by flying cargo between Hawaii and various Pacific Islands in support of the United States Navy throughout World War II before a stint in the Korean War for medical air transport between California and Hawaii. It then moved to cargo-lift work before being decommissioned from active service in 1956. Of the five ever created, only four survived.

Martin Mars: The Challenges Of Getting The Worlds Largest Water Bomber To Its New Museum Home

Keep up with the latest Simple Flying coverage of military aviation here .

Converted to waterbombers

In 1958, the remaining fleet of four Mars aircraft was purchased by a British Columbia consortium of timber companies and then converted to the world's largest waterbombers, with a capacity of up to 7,200 US gallons for each drop— vital in the detrimental forest fire seasons .

Coulson then purchased two of the remaining aircraft in 2007, which included the Hawaii and Philippine Mars, for the aircraft to then take on a new life as fixed-wing air tanker operations in cases of wildfires. Only the Hawaii and Philippine Mars remains of the Martin JRM Mars aircraft ever built today.

Coulson Aviation

Over the last 60 years of the company's history, the organization's mission has focused on 'protecting the world from forest fires,' with the ability to enable simultaneous aerial support across multiple continents. Coulson remains one of the leading suppliers to countries, states, and federal governments and looks to focus its next-generation fleet on a more sustainable and currently manufactured aircraft. According to the company website, it currently operates the following:

• Chinoook CH-47 helitanker
• Blackhawk UH-60 helitanker
• 737 Fireliner
• C-130 Hercules
• Sikorsky S-61 and S-76 Helicopters
• Bell 412 Helicopter
• Martin Mars
• Bombardier Challenger 600
• Cessna Citation

The PIMA Air and Space Museum looks forward to adding the Martin Mars to its growing fleet of aircraft, and Scott Marchand, the museum CEO, noted:

"We are pleased to have the Philippine Mars join our museum, where we will preserve this World War II-era aircraft for decades to come."

NASA's SOFIA Boeing 747 Arrives At Its New Home

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukraine in for 'difficult summer' as Russia preparing 'major offensive'

It is likely to be a "very difficult summer" for Ukrainian forces in the face of increased Russian attacks, military analyst Sean Bell says. Listen to a Daily podcast on whether the UK should send troops to Ukraine as you scroll.

Monday 29 April 2024 17:15, UK

• Big picture : What you need to know as a new week begins
• Ukraine in for 'difficult summer' as Russia preparing 'major offensive'
• Explained : Why is Chasiv Yar the next target for Russia?
• Your questions answered: Will Ukraine launch another spring offensive?
• North Korea expresses 'concern' over US sending long-range missiles to Ukraine
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Katie Williams

At least eight people have been injured in a Russian missile attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa region, according to governor Oleg Kiper.

Mr Kiper also reported damage to residential buildings and civil infrastructure. 

Emergency services are on site, he said on Telegram .

Ukraine's air force reported a harder-to-intercept ballistic missile threat before the strike.

Unverified footage is circulating on social media of a fire that purportedly broke out after the attack.

If you're just joining us or briefly dipping in, here's a quick rundown of all the key events of the day so far:

• NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg is visiting Kyiv for a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy;
• In a joint news conference, Mr Stoltenberg said NATO allies had "not delivered" on their military aid pledges to Ukraine in recent months, saying that "serious delays" had led to negative consequences on the battlefield;
• Mr Zelenskyy also called for the delivery of Western weapons to Kyiv's troops to be sped up;
• Russia's defence ministry claimed its forces have taken control of the village of Semenivka in the eastern Donetsk region;
• European Council president Charles Michel said the Russian invasion of Ukraine has given "new impetus" to calls for the EU to be enlarged beyond the 27 members;
• Germany's public prosecutor's office is assessing whether a political motive was behind the killing of two Ukrainian soldiers in Murnau.

A woman has reportedly been injured after a "series of explosions" hit Kharkiv, according to the city's mayor.

Igor Terekhov wrote on Telegram that a high-rise building has been partially damaged.

"There is information about one injured woman," he said.

Germany's public prosecutor general's office has taken over a probe into the deaths of two Ukrainian soldiers in the country due to a possible political motive.

The two men, aged 36 and 23, were stabbed in southern Germany where they had been recuperating. Police said they were discovered outside a shopping centre in Murnau on Saturday night.

A 57-year-old Russian citizen was later arrested on suspicion of murder.

Preliminary investigations suggest the three people knew each other, but no names have been released in line with German privacy rules.

"The motive for the crime is currently unclear, although a political motivation cannot be ruled out and is being investigated in all directions," the prosecutor general's office in Munich said.

Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba is in contact with German law enforcement about the case.

It's likely to be a "very difficult summer" for Ukrainian forces in the face of increased Russian attacks, says our military analyst Sean Bell.

Ukraine's army chief said yesterday that troops had been forced to make a tactical retreat from three villages in the eastern Donetsk region.

Oleksandr Syrskyi also warned of a worsening battlefield situation for Kyiv.

Bell says Ukraine has run "desperately short of weapons" on the front line during the winter - and with the ground hardening as spring arrives, Russia is now "mounting multiple attacks" while "taking advantage" of Ukraine's weapons shortage.

The boundary of Russian-controlled territory has "shifted west" since its seizure of the key town of Avdiivka earlier this year, Bell adds.

"Russia knows... its got a window of opportunity where it can push hard. It does appear their 'special military operation' was all about the Donbas, so that's where we're expecting the priority.

"The evidence suggests that Russia is massing its forces for a major summer offensive in the Donetsk region."

Ukraine is "on the back foot" as it awaits a massive arrival of military aid as part of the US's new aid package, Bell explains.

"It is going to be a very difficult summer for Ukraine," he says.

We've more to bring you now from Jens Stoltenberg's visit to Kyiv today for talks with Volodymyr Zelenskyy (details on their joint news conference in our 13.42 post).

The NATO secretary-general vowed that members would speed up the flow of military aid to Ukraine, saying the alliance has "not delivered what we have promised over the last months".

"Serious delays in support have meant serious consequences on the battlefield," he said.

However, Mr Stoltenberg noted the recent passing of a massive US aid package for Kyiv and a similar, smaller commitment from the UK.

He also said Germany had agreed to supply Ukraine with another air defence system, while the Netherlands had also ramped up its aid.

There are "new commitments to come", he said.

"This will make a difference – as the lack of support made a difference," he added, seemingly referring to Ukrainian battlefield losses in recent months. 

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has given "new impetus" to calls for the EU to be enlarged beyond the 27 members, the president of the European Council has said.

The alternative would be a "terrible, irresponsible mistake", Charles Michel said.

Discussing an enlargement in 2004, when 10 mostly ex-communist nations such as Poland and Hungary joined the bloc, Mr Michel said it had been a "call of history to unite European countries", the 20th anniversary of which is on Wednesday.

He added: "Twenty years later we face a similar challenge because there is this geopolitical chaos, including because of this war by Russia against Ukraine. 

"And facing this chaos is the geopolitical strategy to reunify once again." 

Applicants to join the EU include six Balkan countries, plus Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. 

Ukraine is by far the biggest prospective member.

"Because of the war launched by Russia against Ukraine, there is a new impetus, a reinvigoration of the enlargement strategy," Mr Michel said. 

"It is challenging. But what is the alternative? The alternative would be a terrible, irresponsible mistake from the EU." 

He suggested the EU and candidate countries should carry out the reforms necessary for enlargement by 2030.

Fresh supplies of weapons from the US have begun to arrive in Ukraine but the process needs to speed up, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. 

Speaking alongside NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at a joint news conference in Kyiv, the Ukrainian president said there had been "timely support for our army".

He added, however: "Today I don't see anything positive on this point yet. 

"There are supplies - they have slightly begun. This process needs to be sped up."

A new $61bn (£48bn) US military aid package was finally signed into law last week after months of deadlock in the US House of Representatives.

Kyiv is hoping its critically low stocks of artillery shells will soon be replenished. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked "partners" as he said Ukraine is "making every effort" to use drones more effectively.

In addition to posting some pictures on X, the Ukrainian president said he wanted to thank people who train drone operators, as well as "our warriors for their efficiency".

He added: "I thank everyone involved in the production and those who ensure better protection of the Ukrainian skies through their work."

Ukrainian servicemen have been saying goodbye to their visiting partners at the railway station in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine.

The men were on a short break from frontline duty.

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