Data from Aviation Week's Tracked Aircraft Utilization tool highlights the comparative performance of leading commercial aircraft types in 2025, revealing significant trends in fleet growth and operational hours compared to the previous year.
The Airbus A220 emerged as the top performer in terms of growth, recording the highest year-on-year utilization increase with a 26.5% increase in the global fleet's flight hours. This growth was accompanied by a 21% expansion in the size of the fleet, which had passed 460 units by the end of 2025.
The Boeing 737 MAX followed closely, with a utilization increase of 22.4%. Its fleet size experienced a robust 26% growth, bringing the total to just over 2,100 units in 2025. Similarly, the A330neo demonstrated strong performance, achieving a 22.1% increase in utilization. Its fleet grew by 19%, reaching 180 units by year-end.
On the other hand, the 757 experienced the largest decline in utilization among major types, with a 5.5% year-on-year decrease. Its fleet also contracted by 6%, leaving just over 600 units in operation by the close of 2025. Additionally, the A320 and 737NG saw modest declines in utilization, with year-on-year drops of 1.6% and 2.9%, respectively.
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