Delta Air Lines operates the world's largest commercial airline fleet, comprised of 982 aircraft as of March 2024. The Atlanta-based carrier operates a fleet of Boeing and Airbus narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Delta's aircraft delivery schedules include A321neo deliveries until 2027 and A220 deliveries until 2028. Its technical division, Delta TechOps, is one of the world's largest third-party MRO providers.
American Airlines
Credit: American Airlines
At the beginning of 2024, Fort Worth-based American Airlines' mainline fleet operated approximately 967 aircraft, making it the North America region's and the world's second largest commercial airline fleet. The airline has large orders in place for Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. The carrier has a large maintenance division which conducts only in-house work. Its main base maintenance facility is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
United Airlines
Credit: Joe Pries
As of March 2024, United Airlines' fleet consisted of 949 aircraft—making it North America's and the world's third largest commercial fleet. The Chicago-based airline is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 variant. For widebody aircraft, it has a large 150 aircraft order, with 50 options in place for 787 aircraft to replace its older variants of the 767 and 777. United's MRO unit, United TechOps, operates 52 line stations globally and has a large maintenance facility in San Francisco.
Southwest Airlines
Credit: Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet which stood at approximately 817 aircraft as of March 2024. The Dallas-headquartered carrier's fleet is comprised of 737-700s, 737-800s and the 737 MAX 8. Next year, deliveries of 737 MAX 7 aircraft are expected to start replacing older 737-700s. For its maintenance, Southwest operates several facilities overseeing some of the fleet's MRO needs. With its fleet expected to grow, the airline recently completed the expansion of a facility in Phoenix, which operates in addition to facilities in Dallas and Houston.
SkyWest Airlines
Credit: Joe Pries
Regional carrier SkyWest Airlines operates partnerships with American Airlines for its American Eagle subsidiary, Delta Air Lines for its Delta Connection carrier and United Airlines for its United Express division. It also operates some routes on behalf of Alaska Airlines. Its fleet is comprised of Bombardier and Embraer manufactured regional aircraft. As of March 2024, SkyWest operates a fleet of 477 aircraft made up of CRJ200s, CRJ700s, CRJ900s and Embraer E175s.
JetBlue
Credit: JetBlue
New York City-based JetBlue operated 291 aircraft as of March 2024. The vast majority of its fleet consists of Airbus narrowbody aircraft, comprised of classic A320 family and newer A321neo aircraft. It also operates 39 Embraer E190s, which it is set to retire in 2026 along with its older A320s. These will be replaced by new Airbus A220 aircraft. JetBlue's technical operation is based at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport with another site located in Boston. These hangars operate in addition to several line stations across the U.S.
Republic Airways
Credit: Republic Airways
Another U.S.-based regional airline with a large fleet is Republic Airways. Like SkyWest, it is also contracted to fly on behalf of the regional operations of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Republic operates an all-Embraer aircraft fleet, comprised of E170s and E175. As of March 2024, it had approximately 228 aircraft in its fleet.
Alaska Airlines
Credit: Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines operates a mostly all-Boeing fleet of approximately 317 aircraft as of April 2024. This fleet is comprised of Boeing 737 Classic and MAX aircraft, which are spread across its commercial fleet and a small cargo fleet. Its Embraer E175 aircraft for regional flights are operated by partners Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines. In its maintenance division, Alaska outsources some services to MRO partners but also carries out in-house fleet work from its main base in Anchorage.
Spirit Airlines
Credit: Spirit Airlines
Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines operates a fleet of approximately 204 aircraft as of March 2024. The airline's fleet is made up of Airbus narrowbodies comprised of A320 family and A320neo family aircraft. As part of fleet modernization plans, it has orders and options in place for more than 100 A320neo and A321neo aircraft over the next few years. In 2022, Spirit announced plans for a new maintenance facility in Houston, to complement its existing MRO hangar in Detroit.
Air Canada
Credit: Airbus
Air Canada's mainline fleet, which does not include its regional subsidiaries, is made up of approximately 188 aircraft as of early 2024. The flag carrier is comprised of Boeing and Airbus narrowbody and widebody aircraft. Air Canada has also approached the emerging electric aircraft market: It placed an order in 2022 for 30 Heart ES-30 aircraft. For maintenance, the airline has a mix of in-house capabilities at bases in Canada as well as outsourced arrangements with local and regional MRO providers.
As Aviation Week's MRO Editor EMEA, James Pozzi covers the latest industry news from the European region and beyond. He also writes in-depth features on the commercial aftermarket for Inside MRO.