Which is the best airline to fly? If you are planning your air travel, this question might resonate with your mind. The airlines are under immense pressure to strike a balance between in-flight experience and the fare they charge, and the pandemic has only exhorted more pressure to woo travelers who are scared of traveling in the post-pandemic world. Keep your fingers crossed if you are looking for the best airlines to fly.
Here is the list of the best airlines to fly in 2023. The ranking is based on the current on-time-performance rating issued by OAG for fights operations in 2021.
#1. LATAM Airlines Group
|
Legal Name |
LATAM Airlines Group S.A. |
|
IATA Code |
LA |
|
ICAO Code |
LAN |
|
Airline Code |
045 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Santiago, Chile |
|
Destinations |
137 across 24 countries |
|
Fleet size |
132 |
|
OTP Ranking |
1 |
If you are planning a vacation to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru, LATAM subsidiaries could be the best airlines to fly. LATAM Brasil, LATAM Chile, LATAM Colombia, LATAM Ecuador, LATAM Paraguay and LATAM Perú operate in the corresponding nations as a flag-carrier. The group is recovering slowly after the Covid hit severely and pushed it on the verge of bankruptcy. Thanks to its remarkable on-time performance (OTP). The airline ranks as #1 on the OTP scale. Most of the subsidiaries are part of Star Alliance or Oneworld and have codeshare agreements with them that enable them to expand their network.
#2. Japan Airlines
|
Legal Name |
Japan Airlines Co., Ltd. |
|
IATA Code |
JL |
|
ICAO Code |
JAL |
|
Airline Code |
131 |
|
Region |
Asia Pacific |
|
City |
Tokyo, Japan |
|
Destinations |
92 |
|
Fleet size |
156 |
|
OTP Ranking |
2 |
For travelers looking for flights to Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania, Japan Airlines could be one of the best airlines to fly in 2022. The flagship carrier of Japan serves 60 domestic destinations and 39 international destinations, excluding codeshare agreements. The airline’s international hubs are Tokyo’s Narita International Airport and Haneda Airport, Osaka’s Kansai International Airport, and Itami Airport. The airline operates 4,500 international flights and 26,000 domestic flights monthly.
#3. Delta Air Lines
|
Legal Name |
Delta Air Lines |
|
IATA Code |
DL |
|
ICAO Code |
DAL |
|
Airline Code |
006 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Atlanta, USA |
|
Destinations |
325 |
|
Fleet size |
750 |
|
OTP Ranking |
3 |
Few airlines in the world can claim to have network coverage as wide as Delta Air Lines has. The SkyTeam member airline is the #1 airline by the number of operations in the US and world. With its hubs spread across the US, including Atlanta, Boston, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, New York–LaGuardia, Salt Lake City, and Seattle/Tacoma, there is little doubt on its dominance in the USA aviation industry.
#4. IndiGo
|
Legal Name |
InterGlobe Aviation Limited |
|
IATA Code |
6E |
|
ICAO Code |
IGO |
|
Airline Code |
312 |
|
Region |
Asia Pacific |
|
City |
Gurgaon, India |
|
Destinations |
96 |
|
Fleet size |
282 |
|
OTP Ranking |
4 |
If you are planning a vacation to India, you can bank on IndiGO. The airline has its hubs across all major cities in India, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, and Ahmedabad. Its code-share agreements with Air France, American Airlines, KLM, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines make it easy for travelers to manage international air travel.
#5. Azul Airlines
|
Legal Name |
Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras S.A. |
|
IATA Code |
AD |
|
ICAO Code |
AZU |
|
Airline Code |
577 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Sao Paulo, Brazil |
|
Destinations |
140 |
|
Fleet size |
145 |
|
OTP Ranking |
5 |
Looking forward to a holiday in Brazil, booking your airline ticket with Azul Airlines is undoubtedly the best choice. The airline has its three hubs in Brazil including Belo Horizonte, São Paulo/Viracopo, and Recife.
#6. Easyjet
|
Legal Name |
EasyJet plc |
|
Airline Code |
U2 |
|
Region |
Europe |
|
City |
Luton, England |
|
Destinations |
136 |
|
Fleet size |
311 |
|
OTP Ranking |
6 |
Thinking of the cheapest airfare to Europe? Easyjet has the most economical option. The airline has three subsidiaries, viz., EasyJet UK, EasyJet Europe, and EasyJet Switzerland.
#7. American Airlines
|
Legal Name |
American Airlines, Inc. |
|
IATA Code |
AA |
|
ICAO Code |
AAL |
|
Airline Code |
001 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Fort Worth, USA |
|
Destinations |
857 |
|
Fleet size |
350 |
|
OTP Ranking |
7 |
American Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in Fort Worth. It is the world’s largest airline when measured by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and revenue passenger mile. The airline along with its regional subsidiaries operates 6,800 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries.
#8. Aeroflot Russian Airlines
|
Legal Name |
PJSC “Aeroflot” |
|
IATA Code |
SU |
|
ICAO Code |
AFL |
|
Airline Code |
555 |
|
Region |
Europe |
|
City |
Moscow |
|
Destinations |
146 |
|
Fleet size |
202 |
|
OTP Ranking |
8 |
Aeroflot is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation and is a member of the SkyTeam airline alliance. The airline has its hubs in Krasnoyarsk Krai and Moscow. Aurora, Pobeda, and Rossiya Airlines are its subsidiaries.
#9. United Airlines
|
Legal Name |
United Airlines, Inc. |
|
IATA Code |
UA |
|
ICAO Code |
UAL |
|
Airline Code |
016 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Chicago |
|
Destinations |
356 |
|
Fleet size |
827 |
|
OTP Ranking |
9 |
United Airlines is one of the leading major carriers in the United States and North America headquartered at Willis Tower in Chicago. In 2020, it captured 12.4% of the domestic market share, according to Statista. The carrier has Boeing 787,777, 767, 757 and 737 along with Airbus 319 and 320 aircrafts. The airline has regional partners, including Air Wisconsin, CommutAir, GoJet Airlines, Mesa Airlines, Republic Airways and SkyWest.
#10. Alaska Airlines
|
Legal Name |
Alaska Airlines, Inc. |
|
IATA Code |
AS |
|
ICAO Code |
ASA |
|
Airline Code |
027 |
|
Region |
The Americas |
|
City |
Seattle, USA |
|
Destinations |
117 |
|
Fleet size |
303 |
|
OTP Ranking |
10 |
Whether it’s planning domestic travel or an international one, Alaska has got you covered. Alaska, together with its regional partners, i.e., Horizon Air and SkyWest Airlines, operates a large domestic route network, primarily focused on connecting from the Pacific Northwest, West Coast, and Alaska to over one hundred destinations in the contiguous United States, Hawaii, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
A member of the Oneworld alliance, Alaska Airlines is a major American airline. It ranks 7th in the USA by fleet size, scheduled passengers carried, and the number of destinations served.
