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 that 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, despite otherwise being among the biggest carriers in the world.
However, the list of total number of destinations served is a different story…
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 398 destinations, including 230 domestic destinations and 168 international destinations
- American serves 373 destinations, including 234 domestic destinations and 139 international destinations
- Delta serves 317 destinations, including 214 domestic destinations and 103 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 120 destinations, including 104 domestic destinations and 16 international destinations. That’s because the airline is more about depth of service than breadth of service, and doesn’t have a regional subsidiary.
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 269 destinations, including 46 domestic destinations and 223 international destinations.
What about after that? Here are the next eight airlines (I think this is where some of the airlines may surprise people):
- China Southern serves 223 destinations, including 143 domestic destinations and 80 international destinations
- China Eastern serves 220 destinations, including 137 domestic destinations and 83 international destinations
- Ryanair serves 217 destinations, including five domestic destinations and 212 international destinations
- Air China serves 216 destinations, including 137 domestic destinations and 79 international destinations
- British Airways serves 214 destinations, including 11 domestic destinations and 203 international destinations
- Air Canada serves 208 destinations, including 48 domestic destinations and 160 international destinations
- Air France serves 190 destinations, including 20 domestic destinations and 170 international destinations
- Lufthansa serves 190 destinations, including 14 domestic destinations and 176 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 and Air Canada.
When you put it all together, below is the chart with the 12 airlines serving the most total destinations.
| Airline | Destinations served |
|---|---|
| United Airlines | 398 |
| American Airlines | 373 |
| Delta Air Lines | 317 |
| Turkish Airlines | 269 |
| China Southern | 223 |
| China Eastern | 220 |
| Ryanair | 217 |
| Air China | 216 |
| British Airways | 214 |
| Air Canada | 208 |
| Air France | 190 |
| Lufthansa | 190 |
In the interest of being thorough, for those curious about Gulf carriers, Qatar Airways is in first place among them, serving 175 destinations, so it doesn’t quite make the list. Meanwhile Ethiopian Airlines, as Africa’s most global airline, serves 163 destinations
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 the “big three” Chinese carriers, the “big three” European carriers, and then also Ryanair and Air Canada.
Are you surprised by any of the airlines serving the most destinations?
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