Commercial airlines move millions of passengers and tons of cargo across the globe every single day. Some of these companies built their dominance by absorbing smaller regional competitors over time. Others expanded rapidly by serving a growing domestic population.
This list ranks the 15 most valuable airlines in the world, based on figures from the end of July 2026. American carriers lead the pack, helped by access to a wide network of routes and high demand. The gallery also features a fast-growing airline from India, budget giants from Europe, and state-backed carriers from China. Click through to find out more.
All figures in USD.