Top 10 Largest Passenger Aircraft in The World
Here are the 10 worlds largest passenger jet aircraft that can transport hundreds of passengers from another side of the world within an hour. Take a look at the list of the largest passenger aircraft in the world!
10. Airbus A333-300
This widebody started flying on November 2, 1992. The aircraft can carry between 250 to 440 passengers. Its main users are Turkish Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA), China Southern Airlines (ZNH), and Cathay Pacific.
In 2020, after passenger traffic went down as much as 90% and air cargo demand and pricing went up, Airbus introduced a new cargo conversion solution for its A330, which can handle up to 7.3 tonnes of cargo.
(Image: The Global Guy / Shutterstock)
9. Airbus A340-300
The Airbus A340 300 is a passenger airplane made in France. It was first manufactured in 1993 and can accommodate 295 passengers in a single-class seat arrangement and 267 in a two-class system.
By the end of May 2020, there were just 35 operators of the Airbus A340 left in the world. Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), having 34 aircraft in its fleet, is the biggest A340 operator. Iberia, another major operator which previously had 15 airliners in its fleet, announced their retirement in June 2020. The main reason for the retirement is the unsuitability of four-engine aircraft and its high costs.
(Image: Adrian Pingstone / Wikimedia)
8. Airbus A340-500
The Airbus A340 500 is a passenger airplane manufactured in France. It came out in 2006, though there were early deliveries in 2002. It is designed for 372 passengers in a single-class seat arrangement and 313 in a double class system. It was primarily used by Emirates and Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY). SIA operated the longest flight in the world, from Singapore to Newark, on A340-500 until 2013.
As of March 2020, there were two A340-500s in airline service left, both with Azerbaijan Airlines.
(Image: Maxim Grohotov / Shutterstock.com)
7. Airbus A350-900
This jetliner that specializes in long-haul travel, has a range of 15,000 km and can accommodate between 300 and 350 passengers. The A350 competes against the Boeing 787-10 and the 777 series, as well as the new Boeing 777X entering service in 2021. Singapore Airlines (SIA1) (SINGY) is one of the main operators of the aircraft.
At the end of January 2020, the A350 XWB Family had received 935 firm orders from 50 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever, according to Airbus.
In 2020, the A350 was also converted into cargo aircraft to operate flights carrying large quantities of medical equipment and other supplies. The A350 freighter can carry up to 104 tonnes of cargo.
(Image: Soos Jozsef / Shutterstock)
6. Boeing 777-200
The Boeing 777 200 is a passenger plane made in the United States. It can accommodate 440 passengers in a single-class system and 400 in a two-class configuration. It has a travel range of 14,260 kilometers or 7,700 nautical miles.
The 777-200 retirements began before the current crisis and continues throughout 2020. British Airways’, Delta Airlines (DAL) and Singapore are among the airlines who are saying goodbye to the aircraft.
(Image: Santi Rodriguez / Shutterstock)
5. Airbus A340-600
Introduced in 2002, the A340-600 is the largest-capacity member of the Airbus A340 Family. The four-engine wide-body can carry 380 passengers. As of October 2020, the main operators are Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) and Mahan Air.
In April 2020, Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) temporarily decommissioned its entire fleet of seventeen Airbus A340-600 aircraft until 2021.
(Image: Eric Salard / Wikimedia)
4. Boeing 777-300
The Boeing 777 300 is a passenger plane manufactured in the United States with a seating capacity of 550 people in a single-class setup and 451 in a two-class configuration. It has a travel range of 6,013 nautical miles or 11,135 kilometers.
Emirates is the largest Boeing 777 operator in the world, with 131 of the 777-300 in service.
(Image: Fasttailwind / Shutterstock.com)
3. Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747 400 is a passenger plane made in the United States by Boeing that has the capacity to accommodate 416 passengers in a three-class setup, 524 in a two-class setup and 660 in an all-economy cabin. It has a travel range of 7,260 nautical miles or 13,446 kilometers. Its inaugural flight was on April 28, 1988. The 747-400, with many structural and electronics improvements, was a major development of the 747 series.
British Airways used to be one of the main operators but it retired the entire 747 fleet due to the coronavirus crisis in the summer of 2020. Now its main operator is Atlas Air. China Airlines is also among the largest passenger airlines still operating the 747 and it has taken delivery of 16, according to planespotters.net.
(Image: Adrian Pingstone / Wikipedia)
2. Boeing 747-8
The Boeing 747 8 is a passenger airplane manufactured in the United States. It can accommodate 700 passengers if a single-class system is followed, while 600 seats are available in a double-class configuration. The plane has a travel range of 8,000nautical miles or 14,816 kilometers.
However, till 2020 it only received 47 orders instead of anticipated 300. Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) was the first one to order 747-8 in 2006. The other airlines that ordered the aircraft were Korean Air and Air China. Boeing had already told suppliers that the last 747-8 would roll off assembly lines in 2022. In 2017 came the last order for a passenger version of 747-8 for the US president’s Air Force One transport plane. It is due to be delivered in 2024.
Boeing plans to replace 747-8 with the brand-new Boeing 777X, which is expected to enter service in 2022. On July 31, 2020, 350 units of the 777Xs were ordered by eight airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Qatar and Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA).
(Image: Aero Icarus / Flickr.com)
1. Airbus A380-800
The Airbus A380 800 is a passenger plane made in France with capacity for 853 passengers in a single class or 644 in a two-tiered class. It has a travel range of 8,208 nautical miles or 15,200 kilometers. It first took flight on 27 April, 2005. As of 30 September 2020, 242 aircraft have been manufactured, however, due to poor sales, Airbus announced A380-800 retirement in 2021. With 114 A380s in its fleet and eight pending delivery, Emirates is currently the main operator of A380 and intends to stay one in the future.
Before the pandemic, the world’s fleet of approximately 250 Airbus A380s reportedly made 330 flights per day, with services to more than 70 destinations. However, on April 27, 2020, the 15th anniversary of the first A380 flight, just one A380 was up in the air – a China Southern flight from Los Angeles to Guangzhou, according to Flightradar24.
Some airlines are grounding their A380 fleets for the duration of the pandemic, while others are retiring them. Air France was one of the first to announce the retirement of its entire fleet of A380s. In the summer of 2020, Qantas confirmed that its fleet of 12 Airbus A380s would remain grounded for the next three years. Etihad Airways’ A380s future is also in doubt, since the airline confirmed the grounding of its superjumbos until at least the Winter 2021.
(Image: Emirates)
Airbus A380plus
Move over A380-800, because there is a new player in town. Airbus announced the new A380plus with even more seats. Officially Airbus states that the new aircraft can carry 80 more passengers and the new winglet design reduces fuel burning by 4% and is 13% cheaper per seat than the old A380. However, the new version of A380 never saw the daylight.
(Image: Airbus)
So, to sum up, there are the Top 10 largest passenger aircraft in the world:
- Airbus A330-300
- Airbus A340-300
- Airbus A340-500
- Airbus A350-900
- Boeing 777-200
- Airbus A340-600
- Boeing 777-300
- Boeing 747-400
- Boeing 747-8
- Airbus A380-800
