34+ Surprising Airplane Facts and Statistics [2026]

Below are more than 34 surprising facts and statistics about air travel and airplanes.

You’ll find hard numbers on aircraft, safety, costs, speed, and global air travel.

Top Airplane Statistics and Facts

The probability of dying in a plane crash is one in 11M, while the possibility of dying in a car crash is one in 5,000. That means your chances of dying in a car accident are 2,000 times higher than in a plane crash.
The plane’s famous “black box” is not black, but orange, because it’d be more visible in the event of an accident.
The commander and the first officer aren’t allowed to eat the same food. That’s because if something is wrong with the meal, the other pilot can still operate the plane.
There are roughly 96,000 planes in the air every day.
The world’s shortest commercial flight typically lasts between 90 seconds and two minutes. It covers a distance of only 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometers), the distance between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray in Scotland.
The active global commercial airline pilot population stands at approximately 382,000.
The number of employed airline and commercial pilots in the US is around 155,400.

Aircraft, Engineering, and Performance

The average price of building an airplane ranges from $90M to $115M, depending on its size and capabilities.
With a wingspan of 290 feet (88.4 m), a maximum takeoff weight of 640 metric tons, and six engines, the Antonov An-225 Mriya was the largest operational airplane until it was destroyed in 2022 during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Although airplanes typically require two engines, some can fly with only one engine for nearly five hours.
The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger aircraft, capable of carrying up to 850 people.
The altitude at which commercial aircraft usually fly is between 33,000 and 42,000 feet (10 and 12.8 kilometers).
The lifespan of a passenger airplane is around 25 years, after which it’s commonly destined for cargo use.
Commercial airplanes are struck by lightning an average of two times yearly.
The largest private jet, a customized Boeing 747-8 VIP valued at approximately $367M and often associated with owner Joseph Lau, features an expansive interior of roughly 4,786 square feet (445 square meters).
The most expensive operational “private jet” is the US Presidential Boeing 747-200B (Air Force One), which is valued at an estimated $660M due to its unique military-grade security and communication systems.

Aviation History and Firsts

The first-ever flight lasted only 12 seconds and covered a distance of 121 feet (36 meters).
The word “airplane” is derived from the Greek “aēr,” meaning air, and the Latin term “planus,” meaning level.
On May 15, 1930, Ellen Church became the first female flight attendant, working a 20-hour flight from San Francisco to Chicago.
The first transatlantic flight took place on June 14, 1919.

Airports and Global Infrastructure

College Park Airport in the city of College Park (Maryland, US) is the world’s oldest airport in operation, established in 1909.
New York International Airport opened in 1948 and was widely known as Idlewild Airport until it was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 1963.
While the United States has the most airports (approximately 16,116), several countries have only one operational commercial airport, including The Gambia and Barbados.
Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport achieved a record 1,036 takeoffs and landings within 24 hours on November 21, 2025.
Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten is one of the most challenging airfields to land a plane. The airport is extremely close to Maho Beach, and its runway is short, with a proximity to the water.
Yrausquin Airport is the world’s smallest commercial airport, situated on the island of Saba in the Caribbean, boasting the shortest commercial runway, which measures 1,312 feet (400 meters) in length.

Flight Operations, Safety, and Aviation Life

The New York to Abu Dhabi flight with Etihad can cost travelers around $64,000 (one-way).
Bette Nash was the most experienced flight attendant in history, having served for nearly 67 years until her passing in May 2024 at the age of 88.
The flight crew has the legal authority to use handcuffs if de-escalation tactics fail and a passenger poses a threat to the aircraft’s safety and security.
Oxygen masks don’t last for the entire flight in case of cabin depressurization. They can only provide air to passengers for about 15 minutes.
The global fleet of active private jets stands at approximately 23,000 to 24,000 aircraft.
Private light aircraft suffer an average of three to four accidents daily, resulting in approximately 300 to 400 fatalities annually in the US.
The country with the most private jets is the USA: approx. 12,000–15,000.
FedEx operates the largest fleet of cargo aircraft, comprising close to 700 planes.

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Sources

Max Woolf

As a Digital PR specialist and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Max has 5+ years of writing experience.
Over the course of his career, Max’s work has garnered significant attention, with features in numerous prominent publications such as The New York Times, Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, TechRepublic, Glassdoor, and G2.