Recently, I wrote a post about the airlines that fly to the most countries. Turkish Airlines wins that title by a long shot, and has a 30+ country lead over the second most “global” airline.
In this post, I want to address a different but related topic — which airlines serve the most destinations? As you’d expect, this is a very different list. That’s because serving a lot of countries is much easier if you’re an airline that has a lot of service in Europe and Africa, given the number of countries there are in close proximity. It’s one of the reason that US airlines don’t score that well when it comes to absolute number of countries served.
However, the list of total number of destinations served is a different story…
In this post:
The “big three” US carriers serve the most destinations
I don’t think anyone will be surprised by the three airlines that serve the most destinations. As it currently stands:
- United serves 360 destinations, including 214 domestic destinations and 146 international destinations
- American serves 356 destinations, including 226 domestic destinations and 130 international destinations
- Delta serves 311 destinations, including 214 domestic destinations and 97 international destinations
This makes sense. In terms of fleets, the “big three” US carriers are among the biggest in the world. A majority of their networks are domestic, which is why the airlines don’t rank that high when it comes to total number of countries served, but they do great when it comes to the total number of destinations served. Note that the number of destinations also includes flights operated by their regional subsidiaries.
I don’t think the order above will surprise anyone. United is of course the most global US airline, and has a very impressive route network, including with ultra long haul flights. Meanwhile American is a massive domestic airline, and has a strong network in Latin America and the Caribbean, which is why it doesn’t appear that far behind United in terms of international destinations. And Delta, ummm, gets a revenue premium.
Just in the interest of being thorough, I’m sure some people are curious how many destinations Southwest serves, since it’s an absolutely massive airline in the United States, though doesn’t operate long haul flights. That number is less impressive — it’s a total of 117 destinations, including 103 domestic destinations and 14 international destinations.
Which other airlines serve the most destinations?
After US carriers, which airlines otherwise top the list of most destinations served? Most people wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Turkish takes that spot, serving 278 destinations, including 46 domestic destinations and 232 international destinations.
What about after that? Here are the next seven airlines (I think this is where some of the airlines may surprise people):
- Ryanair serves 239 destinations, including five domestic destinations and 234 international destinations
- China Southern serves 236 destinations, including 157 domestic destinations and 79 international destinations
- China Eastern serves 218 destinations, including 147 domestic destinations and 71 international destinations
- British Airways serves 214 destinations, including 12 domestic destinations and 202 international destinations
- Air China serves 198 destinations, including 129 domestic destinations and 69 international destinations
- Air France serves 197 destinations, including 21 domestic destinations and 176 international destinations
- Lufthansa serves 197 destinations, including 18 domestic destinations and 181 international destinations
It’s interesting just how different the airlines on the list are. You have the “big three” Chinese carriers, the “big three” European carriers, and then you have Ryanair.
Bottom line
While Turkish Airlines flies to the most countries of any airline in the world, it doesn’t serve the most destinations. Instead that title goes to United, with the “big three” US carriers taking the three top spots. Then Turkish is in fourth place, and is followed by Ryanair, the “big three” Chinese carriers, and the “big three” European carriers.
Are you surprised by any of the airlines serving the most destinations?
Actually, 3rd place on your non-US Big 3 list should be Air Canada, which appears to serve 222 destinations.
Does the count for UA/AA/DL count their regional affiliates like United Express? And does Lufthansa count Discover and Eurowings and LH's affiliates set up to avoid their mainline union contract?
yes... these counts are for the systems of all airlines, including their regional carriers.
Domestically, based on Sept 2024 flight activity, DL served the most cities on mainline with 143, AA with 124, UA with 120, Allegiant with 112, and WN with 104. Everyone else serves less than 100 domestic cities with mainline.
AA serves 207 domestic cities with RJs, UA serves 196 and DL serves 180. There is clearly a inverse correlation...
yes... these counts are for the systems of all airlines, including their regional carriers.
Domestically, based on Sept 2024 flight activity, DL served the most cities on mainline with 143, AA with 124, UA with 120, Allegiant with 112, and WN with 104. Everyone else serves less than 100 domestic cities with mainline.
AA serves 207 domestic cities with RJs, UA serves 196 and DL serves 180. There is clearly a inverse correlation to the amount of the domestic system that is served exclusively by regional jets or jointly with mainline.
AA and UA also use regional jets to more of Latin America than DL or other airlines do, in part because of AA and UA's Texas hubs.
you can debate whether RJs should be excluded or included but there is indeed a difference in what is served by mainline vs. what is served by regional jets.
It takes an uber-premium airline to lead the industry in destinations. Well done United!
Hmm
Are these destinations served or airports?
I.e. is Ord/mdw, dal/dfw, Iah/hou, etc one destination or two destinations per city?
This was my thought/question too. Given the high numbers I have to think each airport is a destination, but I am curious to know. I'm also curious as to Ryan Air vs. EasyJet, Air Asia, and Wizz. I know Ryan is massive but I'd think they'd be somewhat comparable.
Interesting point. Lufthansa as one example flies to both Newark and JFK. Count as 2 destinations (2 airports) or 1 destination (the NYC area)?
EWR and JFK should not be combined considering they are different states.
Not quite sure what your 5 Ryanair domestic destinations are, i make it 9 within the UK (EMA, EDI, STN, MAN, BHX, LDY, BOH, NQY, BFS) and 2 within Ireland (DUB, KIR)?
@ Bobby Davro -- In Ireland there are five, including Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Knock, and Shannon.
I get you - I was thinking more about "non-international" routes (e.g. Derry - Manchester ), where the city pairs form a domestic route.
Thanks :)
I feel like it isn't really particularly fair to consider domestic destinations in that sense, as Ryanair actually only operate one flight within Ireland domestically (DUB-KIR). Realities of the stupidity of that flight existing aside, they also have Polish, British and Maltese subsidiaries (Ryanair UK, Buzz, Malta Air and Lauda Europe), as well as operating domestic flights in countries they aren't headquartered in, such as Morocco.
Domestic routes within the country they are headquartered in, I guess.
Yeah because Ryanair serves many more domestic routes, within Italy, Spain eg
Ryanair is an Irish airline, not a UK company. The 5 domestic airports it serves are DUB, ORK, SNN, NOC and KIR.
The US ‘big three’ might provide the most numerous flights/ASM’s or numerous locations, however, they cannot compete with the best airlines in the world.
Neither can British Airways, Lufthansa, or Ryanair. And, while Air France long-haul F is great, its long-haul J and intra-Europe are on par with British Airways. So, why limit criticism to just the US3?
Overall I'd rate both Air France and BA's long-haul J class ahead of the US "big three"...but in BA's case, only if it's with the reverse herringbone seats.
Hello Lee,
In response to your question; “Why limit criticism to just the US3”, please be advised that I was simply tailoring my response to the three subject airlines inline with blog guidelines.
However, as you expanded to subject airlines perhaps you would prefer that I respond to those you mentioned too.
In the world rankings:
AA are rated No. 78, UA 42, while DA is 21.
While FR are...
Hello Lee,
In response to your question; “Why limit criticism to just the US3”, please be advised that I was simply tailoring my response to the three subject airlines inline with blog guidelines.
However, as you expanded to subject airlines perhaps you would prefer that I respond to those you mentioned too.
In the world rankings:
AA are rated No. 78, UA 42, while DA is 21.
While FR are rated 63, LH 18, BA 13 and AF 9
As can be seen from figures, only FR is rated below DL and UA but still ahead of AA.
Therefore, it is clear that the US ‘Big 3’ cannot compete with the best airlines in the world.
Aero
If you believe a ranking that has Ryanair there, you should probably reconsider what you read.
No one in their right mind would consider penny pinching Ryanair above any network carrier and LH that high? Please
It’s easy to find rankings to support most conclusions you want to see
@AERO...Did you bother reading the topic of the post?
I wonder if ASMs is more meaningful though.
The difference between international service is far larger between United and everyone else in terms of ASMs because a lot of their international destinations are long haul.