Largest Passenger Aircraft in the World
The Airbus A380 is still the undisputed champion despite Airbus ending production in 2021, with a certified maximum capacity of 853 passengers. Boeing's 747-8 was the last quad-engine widebody airliner ever built, and the upcoming 777-9 will become the longest passenger jet in history thanks to folding wingtips that let its 71.8m wingspan fit standard gates. The list below ranks 15 of the largest aircraft flying or arriving on commercial routes, by capacity and by sheer size.
| Rank | Aircraft | Max Pax |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Airbus A380-800 Airbus · First flight 2005 Out of production | 853 |
| 2 | Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental Boeing · First flight 2010 Out of production | 605 |
| 3 | Boeing 777-9 Boeing · First flight 2020 In development | 426 |
| 4 | Boeing 777-300ER Boeing · First flight 2003 Out of production | 550 |
| 5 | Airbus A340-600 Airbus · First flight 2001 Out of production | 475 |
| 6 | Boeing 747-400 Boeing · First flight 1988 Out of production | 660 |
| 7 | Airbus A350-1000 Airbus · First flight 2016 In production | 410 |
| 8 | Boeing 787-10 Boeing · First flight 2017 In production | 440 |
| 9 | Boeing 777-200ER Boeing · First flight 1996 Out of production | 440 |
| 10 | Airbus A350-900 Airbus · First flight 2013 In production | 440 |
| 11 | Airbus A330-300 Airbus · First flight 1992 Out of production | 440 |
| 12 | Airbus A330-900neo Airbus · First flight 2017 In production | 440 |
| 13 | Boeing 787-9 Boeing · First flight 2013 In production | 420 |
| 14 | Boeing 767-400ER Boeing · First flight 1999 Out of production | 375 |
| 15 | COMAC C929 COMAC · First flight TBD In development | — |
A380 vs 747: The Giants
The Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 are the only two double-deck or quad-engine passenger jets still in service at scale, and they represent two completely different design philosophies. The A380 is a true full-length double-decker built around maximum seat count — its 79.8m wingspan is the widest of any airliner, and its 575-tonne MTOW is the heaviest of any passenger aircraft ever certified.
The 747-8 went the other way: a stretched, partial-upper-deck evolution of the original 747 that prioritises length (76.3m) and aerodynamic efficiency over raw capacity. Lufthansa, Air China and Korean Air still fly it on premium routes, but production has ended.
Why Are Widebodies Shrinking?
Look closely at the rankings and you'll notice every modern aircraft on the list — A350, 787, 777X, A330neo — has two engines, while every retiring giant — A340, 747, A380 — has four. That isn't coincidence. The shift is the direct result of ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operations) certification, which now allows twin-engine jets to fly routes hundreds of miles from the nearest diversion airport.
Two engines burn dramatically less fuel than four, weigh less, and need less maintenance. The Airbus A350-1000 carries roughly the same payload as a Boeing 777-300ER on the same routes the A340-600 used to fly, but at materially lower trip cost. Once airlines could open new long-haul markets without packing 400+ seats per departure, the case for very large quads collapsed.
The result: future "large" aircraft like the 777-9 are still big — 76.7m long, the longest passenger jet ever — but they're twin-engine. The era of the four-engine giant is closing.
Notes On Each Aircraft
Production ended 2021. Still the largest passenger aircraft in service by every measure.
Last passenger 747-8 delivered 2017. Final 747 (freighter) rolled out in 2023.
Longest passenger jet ever built. Folding wingtips let it fit Code E gates.
Best-selling widebody of its generation. Backbone of long-haul fleets at Emirates, Cathay, ANA.
Was the longest airliner in the world until the 747-8 and 777X arrived. Mostly retired.
Once the queen of the skies. Lufthansa is the last major passenger operator.
Modern twin-engine answer to the 777-300ER. Operated by Qatar, Cathay, BA, Virgin, JAL.
Largest Dreamliner variant. Length-restricted by tail strike geometry rather than wing.
The aircraft that proved a twin could replace a quad on transpacific routes. Aging out of service.
Best-selling A350 variant. The ULR sub-version flies the Singapore-New York record route.
Replaced by the A330neo. Still flies for many regional widebody operators.
New-engine option for the A330. Operated by Delta, TAP, Air France, Aircalin.
Most popular Dreamliner. Workhorse for ultra-long-haul thin routes (Perth-London, Houston-Sydney).
Largest 767. Delta and United still fly them on transatlantic and domestic premium routes.
China's in-development widebody twin. First flight not yet completed; entry into service later this decade.