Despite most global airlines preferring relatively smaller, more fuel-efficient jets, there will still be plenty of huge jets flying in 2024. While these jets (particularly quad-engines) are becoming extinct, these remain some of the favorite aircraft for passenger comfort, operational reliability, and safety.

largest passenger aircraft

In the article, I have compiled a list of the 7 best passenger aircraft, in terms of passenger capacity, scheduled for travel for the purpose of working with different airline companies, and now we will get to know them as follows:

7- Airbus A340-300

The Airbus A340-300 is a long-range French-manufactured passenger aircraft that first entered service back in 1993. It has a seating capacity of 295 passengers in a single-class configuration and 267 passengers in a typical two-class configuration.

The largest operator of the A340-300 is Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), with a fleet of 17 aircraft.

6- Airbus A330-300

Airbus A330-300 is a widebody aircraft that first entered service on November 2, 1992. It has a passenger capacity that ranges from 250 to 440, depending on the seat configuration chosen by the airline. Some of its main users include Turkish Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines (CIAH) (CEA), China Southern Airlines (ZNH), and Cathay Pacific.

5- Boeing 777-200

The Boeing 777-200 is a passenger plane manufactured in the United States (US). It can accommodate up to 440 passengers in a single-class configuration and 400 in a typical two-class configuration. It has a travel range of up to 7,700 nautical miles or 14,260 kilometers, depending on the version.

Although retirements of the Boeing 777-200 began before the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines United Airlines and All Nippon Airways still operate them. However, Singapore and Delta Airlines (DAL) have retired them completely.

4- Airbus A340-600

The Airbus A340-600 is a four-engine wide-body aircraft that can carry up to 475 passengers, making it the largest member of the A340 family. It was introduced in 2002 and has been used by various airlines worldwide.

As of January 2024, Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) is one of the main operators of the A340-600, with a fleet of 10 aircraft.

3- Boeing 777-300

The Boeing 777-300 is a wide-body passenger plane manufactured in the US with a seating capacity of up to 550 passengers in a single-class configuration and 451 passengers in a typical two-class configuration. It has a travel range of up to 7,370 nautical miles or 13,650 kilometers, depending on the version.

Cathay Pacific is one of the largest operators of the Boeing 777-300, with a fleet of 17 aircraft as of January 2024.

2- Boeing 747-8

The Boeing 747-8 is a passenger airplane manufactured in the US. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 467 passengers in a three-class configuration and has a maximum capacity of 605 passengers. The aircraft has a travel range of 8,000 nautical miles or 14,816 kilometers.

Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) was the first airline to order the 747-8 in 2006, followed by Korean Air and Air China. In 2011, the last order for a passenger version of the 747-8 was received for the US President’s Air Force One transport plane, which is scheduled to be delivered in 2024.

As a result of poor demand, Boeing delivered the final 747 in January 2023 and said goodbye to the ‘Queen of the Skies’. Boeing plans to replace the 747-8 with its newest offering, the Boeing 777X, which is expected to enter service during the next 2 years. As of now, more than 11 airlines, including All Nippon Airways, Qatar, and Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA), have ordered a total of 363 units of the 777X.

1- Airbus A380-800

Making the top spot in our list, the Airbus A380-800, a French-made passenger plane, has the capacity for 853 passengers in a single class or 644 in a two-tiered class and can travel up to 8,208 nautical miles or 15,200 kilometers.

The type first flew on 27 April 2005 and as of December 2021, 251 aircraft have been delivered to 14 customers. However, due to poor sales, Airbus announced the retirement of the A380-800 in 2021.

Emirates, with 120 A380s in its fleet, is the main operator of this aircraft. As of March 2023, Air France has formally announced the retirement of its entire A380 fleet. In October 2023, Lufthansa reintroduced four A380s, that are now based in Munich.

Singapore Airlines had already retired some A380s before the last batch was delivered, but at its peak, it operated around 20 A380s, making it the second largest operator of this aircraft type after Emirates. Currently, only 9 of Singapore Airlines’ A380s are in operation.