Global Commercial Fleet Crosses 31,000 Airframes Amid Delivery Surge
Airlines worldwide took delivery of over 120 single-aisle airframes in September, bringing the active global commercial fleet to historical highs despite supply chain hurdles.
Airline Nation: 2,463 airlines, 1,114 still flying, 1,349 gone
Identity, historical records, codes, callsigns, and corporate lineages for the world's airlines. One page per carrier.
Key Facts: Global Airline Directory
- The directory catalogs 2,463 total airlines across 244 countries as of 2026-10-08.
- 1,114 carriers maintain active operations or verified fleets.
- 1,349 carriers have ceased operations, entered bankruptcy, or merged into successor airlines.
- Every carrier is indexed by two-letter IATA code, three-letter ICAO code, telephony callsign, founding era, and country of origin.
Type at least 2 characters to filter carriers instantly.
Browse Airlines A to Z
Browse by Country
View all 244 countries →Largest Carriers by Observed Fleet
Full fleet leaderboard →Oldest Airlines Still Flying
View all →| Carrier | Country | Founded |
|---|---|---|
| KLM Royal Dutch Airlines | Netherlands | 1919 |
| Qantas | Australia | 1920 |
| Delta Air Lines | United States | 1925 |
| American Airlines | United States | 1926 |
| United Airlines | United States | 1926 |
| Air France | France | 1933 |
| Turkish Airlines | Turkey | 1933 |
| Air Canada | Canada | 1937 |
Recently Defunct Carriers
Browse archive →| Carrier | Country | Ceased |
|---|---|---|
| Alitalia | Italy | 2021 |
| Air Berlin | Germany | 2017 |
| 1Time Airline | South Africa | 2012 |
| Swissair | Switzerland | 2002 |
| Braniff International Airways | United States | 1982 |
Latest Industry News
Daily news archive →Historical Carrier Registries Expand with Comprehensive Deceased Airline Data
Aviation historians catalogued over 1,600 defunct airlines, charting post-war consolidations, regional rebrandings, and fleet dispersals across six decades.
IATA Code Reassignments Hit Record High in Q3 2026
Rapid airline launches in Asia and the Middle East continue to increase two-letter IATA code turnover, prompting calls for standardized historical tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Airline Nation?
Airline Nation is an open reference directory cataloguing the identity, operational history, codes, and corporate lineages of operating and defunct airlines worldwide.
How is operational status verified?
Airlines with observed active airframes or documented active operations are categorized as active. Carriers that filed for bankruptcy, ceased flight schedules, or merged into successor entities are verified as defunct.
What does observed fleet count represent?
Observed fleet counts represent physical airframes recorded in civil registry logs and observation datasets. Live telemetry, radars, and real-time flight tracking are maintained on sister platform Airline Fleet Monitor.
Why are some airline entries marked as stubs?
Airlines with fewer than six verified historical facts are maintained as research stubs to ensure data integrity and prevent thin programmatic content.