Airline Aircraft Fleet Guide: Aircraft Types, Order History

Overview of Major Commercial Aircraft Orders

Updated: July 31, 2024

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Airline Fleets
Airline Fleets by Aircraft Manufacturers
FAQ: Major Aircraft Orders and Airline Fleets

Over the past 25 years, the airline industry has witnessed several significant commercial aircraft orders that have made headlines. These orders reflect the continuous growth, modernization, and competitive nature of airlines worldwide.

an airport with several planes parked on the tarmac

Indigo Partners' Airbus A320neo Order

In 2017, US private equity fund Indigo Partners made headlines by placing a substantial order for Airbus A320neo aircraft. Valued at $49.5 billion, this order was Airbus' largest to date, comprising 430 aircraft: 274 A320neos and 156 larger A321neos.

United Airlines' Boeing 787 Dreamliner and MAX Order

In 2022, United Airlines announced a major fleet expansion with an order for 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, plus an option for 100 more. Additionally, they placed an order for 100 MAX narrow-body aircraft. This substantial investment, totaling over $37 billion at list price, underscores United Airlines' commitment to modernizing its fleet.

Air India's Record-Breaking Purchase

In February 2023, Air India made history with the largest airplane purchase ever recorded in the aviation industry. Their order included nearly 500 planes from both Boeing and Airbus, estimated at approximately $85 billion. This strategic move aims to challenge domestic giant IndiGo and reestablish Air India as the country's leading airline. The order consists of 220 planes from Boeing and 250 planes from Airbus, which will be assembled in Europe.

These significant aircraft orders highlight the industry's continuous efforts to enhance operational efficiency, passenger experience, and sustainability through the adoption of modern, fuel-efficient aircraft.

Airline Fleets

Let's explore the aircraft types used by the top 25 largest airlines worldwide, along with the numbers of planes they operate.

1. American Airlines

American Airlines operates a diverse fleet, including Boeing and Airbus aircraft. Their fleet includes:

Boeing 737-800: 304
Airbus A319-100: 133
Airbus A321-200: 218
Airbus A321neo: 41
Boeing 777-200ER: 47
Boeing 777-300ER: 20
Boeing 787-8: 24
Boeing 787-9: 22

2. Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines primarily operates Airbus aircraft such as the A320 and A321, along with a sizable fleet of Boeing aircraft:

Boeing 737-800: 77
Boeing 737-900ER: 89
Boeing 767-300ER: 56
Boeing 767-400ER: 21
Airbus A220-100: 45
Airbus A220-300: 17
Airbus A319-100: 57
Airbus A320-200: 62
Airbus A321-200: 127
Airbus A321neo: 10
Airbus A330-200: 11
Airbus A330-300: 31
Airbus A330-900neo: 15
Airbus A350-900: 26

3. United Airlines

United Airlines operates both Boeing and Airbus aircraft, including:

Boeing 737-700: 40
Boeing 737-800: 141
Boeing 737-900ER: 136
Boeing 737 MAX 9: 30
Boeing 757-200: 40
Boeing 757-300: 21
Boeing 767-300ER: 37
Boeing 767-400ER: 14
Boeing 777-200: 19
Boeing 777-200ER: 55
Boeing 777-300ER: 22
Boeing 787-8: 12
Boeing 787-9: 38
Boeing 787-10: 19
Airbus A319-100: 94
Airbus A320-200: 99

4. Lufthansa

Lufthansa primarily operates Airbus aircraft, including:

Airbus A320-200: 63
Airbus A321-100: 20
Airbus A321-200: 43
Airbus A330-300: 15
Airbus A340-300: 17
Airbus A350-900: 21
Airbus A380-800: 14
Boeing 747-400: 8
Boeing 747-8I: 19
Boeing 777-9: 20 (on order)

5. Emirates

Emirates Airlines, one of the world's largest and most prestigious airlines, operates an extensive fleet primarily comprised of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A380-800: 118
Boeing 777-200LR: 10
Boeing 777-300ER: 124
Boeing 777-8: 15 (on order)
Boeing 777-9: 115 (on order)

6. China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines boasts a diverse fleet, consisting mainly of Airbus A320 family aircraft and Boeing 737s:

Airbus A319-100: 26
Airbus A320-200: 122
Airbus A321-200: 83
Airbus A321neo: 28
Boeing 737-700: 25
Boeing 737-800: 151
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 24
Boeing 777-300ER: 16
Boeing 787-8: 10
Boeing 787-9: 16
Boeing 787-10: 2

7. Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is renowned for its all-Boeing fleet:

Boeing 737-700: 465
Boeing 737-800: 207
Boeing 737 MAX 7: 20 (on order)
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 37
Boeing 737 MAX 9: 9

8. Air France

Air France operates a fleet predominantly comprised of Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A318-100: 18
Airbus A319-100: 33
Airbus A320-200: 43
Airbus A321-100: 5
Airbus A321-200: 14
Airbus A330-200: 15
Airbus A350-900: 9
Boeing 777-200ER: 19
Boeing 777-300ER: 43
Boeing 787-9: 9

9. Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines operates a diverse fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A319-100: 6
Airbus A320-200: 28
Airbus A321-200: 66
Airbus A321neo: 34
Airbus A330-200: 15
Airbus A330-300: 40
Airbus A350-900: 4
Boeing 737-800: 94
Boeing 737-900ER: 15
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 11
Boeing 737 MAX 9: 5
Boeing 777-300ER: 33
Boeing 787-9: 15

10. Qantas

Qantas, the flag carrier of Australia, operates a fleet predominantly comprised of Boeing aircraft:

Airbus A330-200: 18
Airbus A330-300: 10
Airbus A380-800: 12
Boeing 737-800: 75
Boeing 787-9: 11

11. British Airways

British Airways operates a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A318-100: 1
Airbus A319-100: 35
Airbus A320-200: 67
Airbus A320neo: 14
Airbus A321-200: 23
Airbus A321neo: 8
Airbus A350-1000: 5
Airbus A380-800: 12
Boeing 747-400: 32
Boeing 777-200ER: 43
Boeing 777-300ER: 16
Boeing 787-8: 12
Boeing 787-9: 18
Boeing 787-10: 2

12. Air Canada

Air Canada operates a diverse fleet including both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A220-300: 34
Airbus A319-100: 16
Airbus A320-200: 41
Airbus A321-200: 15
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 24
Boeing 767-300ER: 9
Boeing 777-200LR: 6
Boeing 777-300ER: 19
Boeing 787-8: 8
Boeing 787-9: 29

13. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines operates a fleet primarily of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A330-300: 13
Airbus A350-900: 32
Airbus A350-900ULR: 7
Airbus A380-800: 19
Boeing 777-200: 3
Boeing 777-200ER: 3
Boeing 777-300: 3
Boeing 777-300ER: 27
Boeing 787-10: 15

14. Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines operates a fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A350-900: 10
Boeing 737-800: 44
Boeing 767-300ER: 29
Boeing 777-200ER: 11
Boeing 777-300ER: 13
Boeing 787-8: 25
Boeing 787-9: 22

15. ANA (All Nippon Airways)

ANA operates a fleet predominantly comprised of Boeing aircraft:

Airbus A320neo: 11
Airbus A321neo: 11
Boeing 737-700: 7
Boeing 737-800: 39
Boeing 767-300ER: 33
Boeing 777-200ER: 12
Boeing 777-300ER: 20
Boeing 787-8: 36
Boeing 787-9: 39
Boeing 787-10: 2

16. Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific operates a fleet primarily consisting of wide-body aircraft. As of the latest data, their fleet includes:

Airbus A330-300: 27
Airbus A350-900: 28
Airbus A350-1000: 13
Boeing 777-300: 17
Boeing 777-300ER: 51

17. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A319-100: 2
Airbus A320-200: 32
Airbus A321-200: 6
Airbus A330-200: 4
Airbus A330-300: 13
Airbus A350-900: 34
Airbus A350-1000: 17
Airbus A380-800: 10
Boeing 777-200LR: 9
Boeing 777-300ER: 48
Boeing 787-8: 30
Boeing 787-9: 7

18. Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways operates a fleet primarily comprised of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A320-200: 14
Airbus A321-200: 10
Airbus A330-200: 3
Airbus A350-1000: 5
Airbus A380-800: 10
Boeing 777-200LR: 1
Boeing 777-300ER: 19
Boeing 787-9: 30
Boeing 787-10: 10

19. Korean Air

Korean Air operates a diverse fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A220-300: 10
Airbus A321neo: 20 (on order)
Airbus A330-200: 4
Airbus A330-300: 21
Airbus A380-800: 10
Boeing 737-800: 18
Boeing 737-900: 17
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 5 (on order)
Boeing 747-400: 1
Boeing 747-8I: 10
Boeing 777-200ER: 4
Boeing 777-300ER: 25
Boeing 787-9: 10
Boeing 787-10: 10 (on order)

20. EVA Air

EVA Air operates a fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A321-200: 24
Airbus A330-200: 2
Airbus A330-300: 7
Boeing 747-400F: 6
Boeing 777-300ER: 34
Boeing 787-9: 4
Boeing 787-10: 4

21. China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines operates a diverse fleet including both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A319-100: 35
Airbus A320-200: 201
Airbus A320neo: 66
Airbus A321-200: 89
Airbus A321neo: 35
Airbus A330-200: 10
Airbus A330-300: 25
Airbus A350-900: 8
Boeing 737-700: 37
Boeing 737-800: 114
Boeing 737 MAX 8: 3
Boeing 777-300ER: 20

22. Thai Airways

Thai Airways operates a fleet primarily comprised of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A320-200: 2
Airbus A330-300: 15
Airbus A350-900: 12
Airbus A380-800: 6
Boeing 737-400: 8
Boeing 747-400: 9
Boeing 777-200ER: 6
Boeing 777-300ER: 14
Boeing 787-8: 6
Boeing 787-9: 2

23. Malaysia Airlines

Malaysia Airlines operates a fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A330-200: 2
Airbus A330-300: 15
Airbus A350-900: 6
Boeing 737-800: 47

24. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operates a fleet that includes both Boeing and Airbus aircraft:

Airbus A330-200: 6
Airbus A330-300: 5
Boeing 737-700: 13
Boeing 737-800: 31
Boeing 737-900: 5
Boeing 747-400M: 7
Boeing 777-200ER: 15
Boeing 777-300ER: 14
Boeing 787-9: 13
Boeing 787-10: 5

25. Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic operates a fleet primarily of wide-body aircraft:

Airbus A330-200: 4
Airbus A330-300: 10
Airbus A350-1000: 8
Boeing 787-9: 17

Airline Fleets by Aircraft Manufacturers

Boeing

American Airlines: Boeing 737 (304), 777 (47), 787 (20)
Delta Air Lines: Boeing 737 (166), 767 (97), 717 (91), 757 (81), 777 (18)
United Airlines: Boeing 737 (299), 767 (51), 777 (29), 787 (31)

Airbus

Emirates: Airbus A380 (118), Boeing 777 (151)
Lufthansa: Airbus A320 (96), A321 (71), A319 (48), A350 (16), A330 (15)
Air France: Airbus A320 (51), A321 (19), A319 (35), A330 (15), A380 (10)
Southwest Airlines: Boeing 737 (729)
Ryanair: Boeing 737 (470)
China Southern Airlines: Boeing 737 (166), Airbus A320 (136), A321 (80), A330 (43), A380 (5)

These examples highlight the diverse range of aircraft types utilized by airlines, with Boeing and Airbus being the primary manufacturers. Each airline carefully selects specific aircraft models based on operational requirements, passenger capacity needs, and long-term strategies. The continuous advancements in aircraft technology provide airlines opportunities to optimize their fleets, reduce fuel consumption, and offer a superior travel experience to passengers in terms of comfort, connectivity, and sustainability.

FAQ: Major Aircraft Orders and Airline Fleets

Indigo Partners placed an order for 430 Airbus A320neo aircraft in 2017, valued at $49.5 billion.

United Airlines ordered 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 100 MAX narrow-body aircraft in 2022.

Air India made the largest airplane purchase ever recorded in February 2023, ordering nearly 500 planes from Boeing and Airbus.

American Airlines operated a fleet including 304 Boeing 737-800, 133 Airbus A319-100, 218 Airbus A321-200, and several other models.

Delta Air Lines primarily operates Airbus A320 and A321, along with a sizable fleet of Boeing 737, 767, and other models.

Emirates Airlines operates an extensive fleet primarily comprised of wide-body aircraft, including 118 Airbus A380-800 and 124 Boeing 777-300ER.

Southwest Airlines is renowned for its all-Boeing fleet, including 465 Boeing 737-700 and 207 Boeing 737-800.

Air France operates a fleet predominantly comprised of Airbus aircraft, including Airbus A318-100, A319-100, A320-200, and others.

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of wide-body aircraft, including Airbus A350-900, A380-800, and Boeing 777-300ER.

Boeing and Airbus are the primary aircraft manufacturers for major airlines, supplying a diverse range of aircraft types to meet various operational needs.

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