As of 2022, based on the crucial metric of scheduled passenger-kilometers flown, American Airlines Group holds the title of the biggest airline in the world. This measurement is a key indicator of an airline's operational scale and market reach, reflecting the total distance traveled by all paying passengers.
The dominance of American carriers in this metric is notable, with U.S.-based airlines securing the top three positions globally. This highlights their extensive route networks and high passenger volumes.
Top Airlines by Scheduled Passenger-Kilometers Flown (2022)
The following table details the leading airline groups based on their performance in 2022, measured in billions of scheduled passenger-kilometers:
| Rank | Airline Group | 2022 (Billions of Passenger-Kilometers) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Airlines Group | 347 |
| 2 | United Airlines Holdings | 332 |
| 3 | Delta Air Lines Group | 314 |
| 4 | Air France–KLM | 237 |
Data compiled from Largest airlines in the world - Wikipedia
This metric provides a comprehensive view of an airline's capacity utilization and passenger traffic, making it a robust measure for comparing the "biggest" airlines globally.
