According to the 2018 International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics, American Airlines is the largest airline in the world by fleet size. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline has a total of 1,532 aircraft with an average age of 11.9 years as of October 2019 making it the biggest operator in terms of fleet size among its competitors. Among these planes are 878 mainline jets and 654 regional jets carrying passengers and cargo throughout their network spanning over 350 destinations in 50 countries across six continents.
American Airlines’ impressive growth can be attributed to its acquisition history which began when parent company AMR Corporation acquired Trans World Airlines (TWA) in 2001 and continued with US Airways in 2013. This move enabled American Airlines to create the world’s largest airline and benefit from economies of scale in operations, maintenance, and servicing. It also allowed them to capture a larger share of the market by providing a more comprehensive route network with increased seat capacity and competitive fares.
Apart from its impressive size, American Airlines is renowned for its high-quality customer service. The company has been awarded multiple awards such as Airline of the Year (2017) by Air Transport World Magazine and Best North American Major Carrier (2018) by Skytrax. In addition, American Airlines recently launched their Flagship First Class suite which features full-size beds, noise canceling headphones, laptop power outlets and other amenities that set it apart from competitors.
American Airlines is not the only airline that has seen significant growth in recent years. Other large global airlines including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have also seen their fleet size increase over the past few years. Despite this, American Airlines remains the largest airline in terms of fleet size. This is a testament to its commitment to providing customers with an unmatched travel experience and its ability to remain competitive in a fiercely contested market.
The future looks bright for American Airlines as they are expected to continue expanding their network with new routes and additional aircraft. With plans of continued improvements to their service offerings and customer satisfaction levels, it seems likely that American Airlines will maintain its position as the world’s largest airline by fleet size for many more years to come.
