Global airline capacity is scheduled to reach approximately 2.54 billion departure seats during the northern winter 2026-27 season, an increase of 2.2% from 2.49 billion a year earlier.
The number of scheduled departures will rise by a slower 0.9% to 15.68 million, indicating that airlines are continuing to add capacity partly through larger aircraft and denser configurations. Average seats per departure will increase from approximately 160.1 to 162.3.
International capacity is expanding more quickly than domestic flying. Cross-border capacity will rise 2.9% to 1.04 billion departure seats, while domestic capacity will increase 1.8% to 1.5 billion.
The U.S. remains the world’s largest aviation market, with approximately 517.6 million departure seats—up 3% from winter 2025-26. China ranks second with 399.9 million seats, an increase of 3.8%. Together, the two countries account for about 36% of global capacity.
India remains third with almost 112 million seats, up 1.4%, followed by Japan at 88.3 million, up 1.6%. Spain will rise 5.3% to 69.9 million seats, moving ahead of the UK, while Brazil will increase 8.6% to 68.4 million and also surpass the UK, where capacity is broadly flat at 67.6 million.
Italy is another strong performer, with capacity increasing 11.3% to 53 million seats. By contrast, Russia records the largest absolute reduction, falling 13% to 33.2 million. Iran is down 48.3%, while Nepal and Nigeria are scheduled to contract by 34.6% and 17.8%, respectively.
American Airlines remains the world’s largest carrier by scheduled capacity, offering approximately 122.7 million departure seats, up 5.2%. Delta Air Lines ranks second with 102.6 million, followed by United Airlines, which will increase capacity 7.7% to 101.5 million and move ahead of Southwest Airlines.
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Ryanair is fifth with 75.8 million seats, broadly unchanged year over year. China Southern Airlines will provide 66.2 million seats, followed by IndiGo with 65.9 million and China Eastern Airlines with 65.3 million.
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport remains the largest airport by departure capacity with 25.5 million seats, despite a 0.7% reduction. Dubai International Airport ranks second with 24.9 million, while Chicago O’Hare International Airport will increase 13% to 23.4 million, narrowly overtaking Tokyo Haneda Airport.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport completes the top five with 22.9 million seats, up 7%. Among other major airports, Abu Dhabi will expand 16.9%, Rome Fiumicino 12.9%, San Francisco 11.3% and Riyadh 10.7%.
Based on current schedules, Tokyo Haneda-Sapporo New Chitose is the world’s largest airport pair, with approximately 5.18 million two-way seats, narrowly ahead of Seoul Gimpo-Jeju and Jeddah-Riyadh.
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