Aviation Facts
100 fascinating facts about aviation, airports, and flight.
World Records (25)
Record-breaking achievements in aviation — busiest airports, longest flights, and more.
Busiest Airport by Passengers
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport handled 93.7 million passengers in 2023, making it the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic.
Busiest Airport for International Passengers
Dubai International Airport served over 87 million passengers in 2023, nearly all of them international travelers.
Busiest Airport by Aircraft Movements
Chicago O'Hare International Airport recorded over 903,000 aircraft movements in 2023, the highest in the world.
Largest Airport by Area
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia spans 780 square kilometers, larger than the entire country of Bahrain.
Longest Commercial Runway
Qamdo Bamda Airport in Tibet has the world's longest commercial runway at 5,500 meters to compensate for its extreme altitude.
Shortest Commercial Runway
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on the island of Saba in the Caribbean has the world's shortest commercial runway at just 400 meters.
Highest Elevation Commercial Airport
Daocheng Yading Airport in Sichuan, China sits at 4,411 meters above sea level, making it the world's highest commercial airport.
Lowest Elevation Airport
Bar Yehuda Airstrip near the Dead Sea sits 389 meters below sea level, making it the lowest airport on Earth.
Longest Nonstop Commercial Flight
Singapore Airlines operates the world's longest nonstop flight from Singapore to New York JFK, covering 15,349 kilometers in about 18 hours and 50 minutes.
Shortest Scheduled Flight
The flight between Westray and Papa Westray in Scotland's Orkney Islands covers just 2.7 kilometers and takes about 57 seconds.
Most Runways at a Single Airport
Chicago O'Hare International Airport has 8 runways, the most of any commercial airport in the world.
Oldest Continuously Operating Airport
College Park Airport in Maryland has been in continuous operation since 1909, making it the world's oldest airport.
Airport Serving the Most Destinations
Istanbul Airport serves over 340 destinations, connecting more cities nonstop than any other airport.
Airline Serving the Most Destinations
Turkish Airlines flies to over 340 destinations in more than 130 countries, reaching more places than any other carrier.
Largest Aircraft Ever Built
The Antonov An-225 Mriya had a maximum takeoff weight of 640 tonnes and an 88-meter wingspan, making it the largest aircraft ever built.
Fastest Commercial Aircraft
The Concorde cruised at Mach 2.04, or about 2,180 km/h, crossing the Atlantic in under 3.5 hours.
Most Profitable Airline Route
The Sydney to Melbourne corridor generates roughly 1 billion USD in annual revenue, making it one of the most profitable airline routes globally.
Largest Airline Fleet
American Airlines operates a fleet of over 950 aircraft, the largest of any airline in the world.
Country with the Most Airports
The United States has over 19,700 airports, more than any other country by a wide margin.
Oldest Operating Airline
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, founded in 1919, is the oldest airline still operating under its original name.
Busiest Single-Runway Airport
London Gatwick Airport handles up to 55 aircraft movements per hour on its single runway, the busiest single-runway operation in the world.
Largest Airline by Revenue
Delta Air Lines generated over 58 billion USD in revenue in 2023, making it the largest airline by total revenue.
Most Passengers on a Single Aircraft
A Boeing 747 carried 1,088 people during an emergency evacuation flight from Ethiopia to Israel in 1991.
Highest Industry Passenger Load Factor
The global airline industry achieved an average passenger load factor of 87.1% in 2023, the highest ever recorded.
Longest Commercial Aircraft
The Boeing 777-9 measures 76.7 meters in length, making it the longest commercial aircraft ever produced.
Aviation Geography (20)
Fascinating geographic extremes and curiosities from the world of airports and flight.
Airports on Opposite Sides of the Earth
Madrid Barajas and Auckland are nearly perfectly antipodal, sitting on almost exactly opposite points of the globe about 19,590 km apart.
Airport Closest to the Equator
Mariscal Sucre Airport in Quito sits just 22 km south of the equator, making it one of the closest major airports to the 0-degree latitude line.
Northernmost Airport with Scheduled Flights
Svalbard Airport Longyearbyen at 78.25 degrees north is the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled airline service.
Southernmost Airport with Scheduled Flights
Ushuaia Malvinas Argentinas International Airport at 54.8 degrees south is the southernmost airport with regular commercial service.
Airports Closest to the International Date Line
Fiji's Nadi International Airport and Samoa's Faleolo Airport are separated by the International Date Line, meaning flights between them can arrive before they depart by calendar date.
Airports Built Below Sea Level
Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam sits 3.4 meters below sea level, protected by an extensive system of dikes, pumps, and drainage canals.
Most Isolated Airport
Mataveri International Airport on Easter Island is 3,759 km from the nearest populated landmass, making it the most remote airport with scheduled service.
Airport Straddling Two Countries
EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg straddles the French-Swiss border and is jointly operated by both countries under a unique binational agreement.
Airport Closest to City Center
London City Airport is just 9.5 km from the City of London financial district, the closest major airport to a global financial center.
City with the Most Airports
London is served by six major airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City, and Southend), more than any other metropolitan area.
Airport Built on an Artificial Island
Kansai International Airport was built on a 4 km by 1 km artificial island in Osaka Bay, constructed over three years using 180 million cubic meters of fill.
Airport with a Beach Runway
Barra Airport in Scotland's Outer Hebrides is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights use a beach as the runway.
Airport Runway Crossed by a Road
Gibraltar International Airport's runway is intersected by Winston Churchill Avenue, the main road connecting Gibraltar to Spain.
Most Frequent Domestic Air Route
The Jeju to Seoul Gimpo route in South Korea sees over 180 daily flights, making it one of the most frequent air services in the world.
Longest Flight Without Crossing an Ocean
The flight from Lisbon to Singapore covers over 11,000 km entirely over land, the longest possible route without crossing a major ocean.
Airport Officially Serving Two Countries' Cities
Geneva Airport has a French sector accessible directly from France, allowing French residents to use the airport without entering Swiss territory.
Airport with the Most Terminals
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has five terminals (A through E) connected by an automated people mover spanning 7,300 hectares.
Airport with the Most Extreme Crosswinds
Wellington Airport in New Zealand is notorious for extreme crosswinds gusting over 120 km/h due to the Cook Strait funnel effect.
Airport with a Golf Course Between Runways
Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok has an 18-hole golf course situated between its two parallel runways.
Airports with Ice Runways
Several Antarctic research stations use runways carved directly into sea ice or glacial ice, with some supporting aircraft as large as the C-17 Globemaster.
Aviation Milestones (20)
Key moments that shaped the history of commercial and civil aviation.
First Powered Flight
Orville Wright made the first sustained powered flight on December 17, 1903, covering 37 meters in 12 seconds at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
First Scheduled Airline Service
The St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line began the world's first scheduled airline service on January 1, 1914, flying across Tampa Bay.
First Nonstop Transatlantic Flight
John Alcock and Arthur Brown completed the first nonstop transatlantic flight on June 15, 1919, flying from Newfoundland to Ireland in 16 hours.
First Commercial Jet Airliner Service
The de Havilland Comet entered service on May 2, 1952, becoming the first jet-powered airliner to carry paying passengers.
First Wide-Body Aircraft
The Boeing 747 made its first commercial flight on January 22, 1970, ushering in the era of wide-body aircraft and mass air travel.
First Supersonic Passenger Service
The Concorde began scheduled supersonic passenger service on January 21, 1976, simultaneously from London and Paris.
First Fly-by-Wire Airliner
The Airbus A320 entered service in 1988 as the first commercial airliner with a digital fly-by-wire flight control system.
US Airline Deregulation
The US Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 removed government control over fares, routes, and market entry, transforming the global airline industry.
First Open Skies Agreement
The United States and the Netherlands signed the first Open Skies agreement in 1992, liberalizing international air transport.
First GPS-Based Landing Approach
The FAA approved the first GPS-based instrument approach procedure in 1993, beginning the satellite navigation revolution in aviation.
Airbus A380 Enters Service
The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft with a capacity of up to 853 passengers, entered commercial service in October 2007.
First Commercial Biofuel Flight
KLM operated the first commercial flight using biofuel on June 29, 2011, from Amsterdam to Paris using a 50% cooking oil blend.
First Fully Automated Passenger Landing
A BEA Trident performed the first automatic landing in revenue passenger service on June 10, 1965, at London Heathrow in dense fog.
First Global Airline Alliance
Star Alliance was founded on May 14, 1997 by five airlines, becoming the world's first global airline alliance with coordinated schedules and shared benefits.
First All-Electric Commercial Aircraft Flight
Harbour Air completed the first all-electric commercial aircraft flight on December 10, 2019, using a converted DHC-2 de Havilland Beaver.
First Airport Control Tower
Cleveland Municipal Airport established the first airport traffic control tower in 1930, staffed by controllers using flags and flares to direct aircraft.
First Jet Bridge Installed
The first passenger jet bridge was installed at San Francisco International Airport in 1959, eliminating the need to walk across the tarmac.
First Airport Duty-Free Shop
Shannon Airport in Ireland opened the world's first duty-free shop in 1947, creating a retail concept now worth billions globally.
First Airport Moving Walkway
Love Field Airport in Dallas installed the first moving walkway in an airport terminal in 1958, setting a standard now found in airports worldwide.
First ETOPS Certification for Twins Over Oceans
In 1985, the FAA granted the first ETOPS (Extended Twin-Engine Operations) certification, allowing twin-engine aircraft to fly oceanic routes previously restricted to three- and four-engine planes.
Industry Statistics (20)
Numbers that define the scale and scope of global aviation.
Annual Airline Passengers Worldwide
Airlines worldwide carried approximately 4.7 billion passengers in 2024, surpassing the pre-pandemic record.
Daily Commercial Flights
On an average day, approximately 115,000 commercial flights take to the skies worldwide, carrying millions of passengers and cargo.
Commercial Aircraft in Service
About 28,000 commercial aircraft are currently in active service worldwide, with narrow-body jets making up about two-thirds of the fleet.
Aviation's Share of Global CO2 Emissions
Commercial aviation accounts for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion.
Global Average Load Factor
The global average passenger load factor reached approximately 83% in a typical recent year, meaning about 5 out of 6 seats are filled.
Jobs Supported by Aviation
The global aviation industry directly employs about 3.6 million people, with an additional 83 million jobs supported through the broader economic chain.
Global Airline Industry Revenue
The global airline industry generated approximately 964 billion USD in revenue in 2024.
Total Airports Worldwide
There are approximately 41,000 airports worldwide, though fewer than 4,000 have scheduled commercial airline service.
Global Air Cargo Volume
Airlines transported approximately 62 million tonnes of cargo and mail by air in 2024, representing about 35% of global trade by value.
Average Speed of a Commercial Jet
Most commercial jet aircraft cruise at speeds between 800 and 900 km/h, or roughly Mach 0.78 to 0.85.
Global Aviation Fuel Consumption
The global aviation industry consumes approximately 350 billion liters of jet fuel annually, about 7% of all refined petroleum products.
Low-Cost Carrier Market Share
Low-cost carriers now account for approximately 33% of global airline seats, up from under 10% in 2001.
Commercial Aviation Safety Rate
The fatal accident rate for commercial aviation has fallen to roughly 0.03 per million flights, making flying statistically the safest form of mass transportation.
New Aircraft Deliveries Annually
Boeing and Airbus together deliver roughly 1,200 to 1,500 new commercial aircraft per year, worth over 100 billion USD.
Average Age of Commercial Aircraft
The average age of the global commercial aircraft fleet is approximately 12.5 years, with many aircraft flying well past 20 years.
Minimum Cabin Crew Requirements
Regulations require a minimum of one flight attendant per 50 passenger seats, primarily for safety rather than service reasons.
Busiest Air Route by Seat Capacity
The Jeju to Seoul Gimpo route offers over 16 million seats annually, making it the busiest air route in the world by seat capacity.
Airline Ancillary Revenue
Airlines generated over 118 billion USD in ancillary revenue in 2023, from baggage fees, seat upgrades, and other extras.
Decline in Real Airfare Prices
Average airfares have declined by roughly 50% in real terms since 1990, making flying more accessible to a broader population.
Women Pilots in Commercial Aviation
Women represent only about 5.8% of commercial airline pilots worldwide, though the percentage has been steadily increasing in recent years.
Surprising Facts (15)
Unexpected and little-known facts about flying, airports, and aircraft.
Why the Captain Sits on the Left
The captain always sits in the left seat of the cockpit, a convention dating back to early propeller aircraft where left-seat positioning helped manage engine torque during takeoff.
Why Cabin Lights Dim for Landing
Airlines dim cabin lights during nighttime takeoff and landing so passengers' eyes are pre-adjusted to darkness in case of an emergency evacuation.
Food Tastes Different at Altitude
At cruising altitude, passengers lose approximately 30% of their ability to taste sweet and salty flavors due to low humidity and cabin pressure.
Contrails as Weather Indicators
Short-lived contrails indicate dry upper air and fair weather, while persistent contrails that spread into cirrus clouds suggest approaching moisture and potential storms.
Oxygen Masks Provide 12-22 Minutes of Air
The emergency oxygen masks in a passenger aircraft provide only 12 to 22 minutes of breathable air, which is enough time for pilots to descend to safe altitude.
Black Boxes Are Actually Orange
Flight recorders, commonly called black boxes, are actually painted bright orange to make them easier to locate in wreckage.
Winglets Save 4-5% Fuel
The upturned tips on modern aircraft wings, called winglets, reduce drag and save approximately 4-5% in fuel consumption.
Aircraft Tires Handle Extreme Pressure
Aircraft tires are inflated to about 200 psi, roughly six times the pressure of a car tire, to withstand landing impacts at over 250 km/h.
Cabin Air Is Replaced Every 2-3 Minutes
The air in an aircraft cabin is completely replaced every 2 to 3 minutes, with about 50% coming from outside and 50% recirculated through HEPA filters.
Pilots Eat Different Meals
The captain and first officer are required to eat different in-flight meals to minimize the risk of both pilots suffering food poisoning simultaneously.
Many Airlines Skip Row 13
Many airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, and Ryanair skip row 13 on their aircraft due to the superstition that the number is unlucky.
Aircraft Are Struck by Lightning Regularly
Commercial aircraft are struck by lightning approximately once every 1,000 to 2,000 flight hours, yet lightning has not caused a crash since 1967.
Airplane Doors Cannot Open in Flight
It is physically impossible to open an aircraft door in flight because cabin pressure creates over 6 tonnes of force holding each door shut.
Deadheading: Pilots Riding as Passengers
Airlines routinely fly pilots and crew as passengers, called deadheading, to position them at airports where they are needed for upcoming flights.
Tray Tables Are the Dirtiest Surface on a Plane
Studies have found that airplane tray tables harbor an average of 2,155 colony-forming units of bacteria per square inch, more than lavatory flush buttons.