Top 5 Airlines with the Largest Widebody Aircraft Fleets

The World’s Largest Fleets of Widebody Aircraft

The Aviation Brief has analyzed data from Planespotters.net to identify the top five airlines with the largest widebody aircraft fleets. This analysis includes Emirates, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Turkish Airlines. Widebody aircraft, characterized by having two aisles, are predominantly utilized for long-haul and high-capacity routes to major global hubs. Below, we explore the specifics of each airline’s fleet.

Emirates Dominates with A380-Focused Fleet

Leading with an exclusively widebody fleet, Emirates operates 140 Boeing 777s, 116 Airbus A380s, and 8 Airbus A350s. The A350 line is set to expand further, with orders for 56 A350-900s, 35 777-8s, 170 777-9s, 20 787-8s, and 15 787-10s. These acquisitions will modernize the fleet, replacing older 777 models with delivery scheduled between 2025 and 2030.

Airline	Widebody Fleet Size
Emirates	264
United Airlines	227
Qatar Airways	199
Delta Air Lines	176
Turkish Airlines	154

Emirates is renowned for its A380 fleet, acquiring the final aircraft of this type in December 2021. As Emirates increases its 777X orders, a transition focus will emerge, enhancing range, comfort, and environmental benefits of modern airliners.

United Airlines: Diverse Widebody Fleet

United Airlines operates a fleet of 227 widebody jets, including several models:

37 Boeing 767-300ERs
16 Boeing 767-400ERs
19 Boeing 777-200s
55 Boeing 777-200ERs
22 Boeing 777-300ERs
12 Boeing 787-8s
46 Boeing 787-9s
21 Boeing 787-10s

United looks to the future with major orders for 142 Boeing 787-9s to phase out its older 767s. Moreover, the airline plans to further expand by bringing 45 A350-900s into its fleet to succeed the aging 777-200ERs, displaying less interest in the delayed 777X program.

Qatar Airways: A Futuristic Fleet

With 199 widebody aircraft, Qatar Airways majorly focuses on next-generation aircraft, including:

34 Airbus A350-900s
24 Airbus A350-1000s
32 Boeing 787-8s
23 Boeing 787-9s

While maintaining older models like the 56 Boeing 777-300ERs and a small number of A380s, Qatar continues to anticipate the delivery of 18 A350-1000s, 90 777-9s, 62 787-9s, and 75 787-10s. This shift is marked by their pivotal Boeing order worth $96 billion for 160 787s and 777Xs in 2025.

Delta Air Lines: Emphasis on Versatility

Delta Air Lines manages a strategically versatile fleet of 176 widebody aircraft comprising:

11 Airbus A330-200s
31 Airbus A330-300s
37 Airbus A330-900neos
38 Airbus A350-900s
39 Boeing 767-300ERs
21 Boeing 767-400ERs

While their widebody orders are modest, with just a few A350-1000s and A330-900neos, Delta has significant narrowbody orders, notably 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10s.