Top 10 Richest Airline Companies by Revenue (2025)

Leave a Comment / Economy & Trade, Global Stats / By

The global airline industry is a massive contributor to international travel, trade, and economic growth. In this article, we rank the top 10 richest airline companies by revenue in 2025—highlighting the carriers that generate the highest sales through passenger services, cargo operations, and global routes across North America, Europe, Asia, and beyond.

Revenue is a key metric for evaluating an airline’s size and market dominance. It reflects a company’s ability to manage operational capacity, seat sales, freight services, partnerships, and geographic coverage. The richest airlines are not only leaders in passenger transport but also in fleet size, route networks, and international connectivity. Most companies on this list are legacy carriers with decades of global service, while others are innovative low-cost giants adapting to changing traveler expectations.

Top 10 Richest Airline Companies by Revenue (2025)

  1. Delta Air Lines: $61.93 billion
  2. United Airlines Holdings: $57.73 billion
  3. American Airlines: $54.19 billion
  4. Lufthansa Group: $40.53 billion
  5. International Consolidated Airlines Group: $34.62 billion
  6. Air France–KLM Group: $33.93 billion
  7. Southwest Airlines: $27.48 billion
  8. China Southern Airlines: $24.24 billion
  9. Air China: $23.19 billion
  10. Turkish Airlines: $21.64 billion

Delta Air Lines leads the world in airline revenue, earning over $61 billion, thanks to its extensive domestic and international network, premium travel experiences, and strategic partnerships. United Airlines and American Airlines, both headquartered in the United States, follow closely behind, with strong hubs in major cities and aggressive global expansion strategies.

Lufthansa, Europe’s richest airline group, benefits from its premium transatlantic offerings, strong cargo division, and subsidiaries like Swiss International and Austrian Airlines. IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, operates across both Europe and North America with lucrative long-haul services.

Air France-KLM, another European powerhouse, maintains a dominant presence in both passenger and freight markets, especially across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Southwest Airlines, a U.S.-based low-cost carrier, holds its place in the top 10 due to its volume-driven domestic operations and high aircraft utilization rates.

On the Asian front, China Southern Airlines and Air China show strong post-pandemic recovery, catering to both regional and long-haul routes with growing demand from Chinese travelers. Turkish Airlines, strategically located between Europe and Asia, has evolved into a major global connector with over 120 countries served.

# Company Name Revenue Country
1Delta Air Lines$61.93 BUSA
2United Airlines Holdings$57.73 BUSA
3American Airlines$54.19 BUSA
4Lufthansa$40.53 BGermany
5International Consolidated Airlines$34.62 BSpain
6Air France-KLM$33.93 BFrance
7Southwest Airlines$27.48 BUSA
8China Southern Airlines$24.24 BChina
9Air China$23.19 BChina
10Turkish Airlines$21.64 BTurkey

Disclaimer: The revenue figures in this article are based on publicly available data as of May 2025 and are subject to change due to fuel prices, travel demand, exchange rates, and airline restructuring.

A key trend among the top earners is the shift from being just carriers to becoming full-service aviation ecosystems. Companies like Delta, Lufthansa, and Turkish Airlines invest heavily in loyalty programs, lounges, inflight tech, and strategic alliances. Their emphasis on business travel, international connectivity, and frequent flyer retention fuels sustainable revenue even during market turbulence.

Related Articles

Source

Other Articles