New Study Reveals Which U.S. Airlines Have the Oldest and Newest Fleets

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Upgraded Points analyzed fleet data from the nine largest U.S. airlines to compare average fleet ages, identify each airline's oldest aircraft, and measure the share of planes that have been in service for at least 25 years. The company also surveyed 1,010 U.S. air travelers about their perceptions of aircraft age and whether it influences their booking decisions.

"Travelers consider ticket prices, flight times, and seat comfort when booking, but aircraft age is rarely disclosed during the process," said Ryan Smith, Director of News at Upgraded Points. "Our research found that most travelers care about how old their plane is, though few have ever looked it up. We wanted to compare the fleets of major airlines and find out whether knowing a plane's age could affect how people book." 

Methodology

Upgraded Points analyzed the active fleets of the nine largest U.S. airlines using Planespotters.net data accessed in September 2026. For each airline, the study recorded total active fleet size, average fleet age, and the age of the oldest aircraft. It also counted aircraft less than two years old, as well as aircraft aged 25 or older and 30 or older, then divided each count by the airline's total fleet to calculate its share.

In September 2026, Upgraded Points surveyed 1,010 U.S. air travelers about their perceptions of aircraft age and whether it would affect their comfort, trust, or booking decisions.

The oldest planes: Airlines with fleets 25 years or older

Average age tells only part of the story. The share of an airline's fleet that is at least 25 years old offers another way to compare how many veteran aircraft each airline operates.

United has the largest share of planes at least 25 years old, followed by Delta and American. United and Delta are the only airlines in the study with planes aged 30 or older, representing 4.9% and 3.6% of their fleets, respectively. Southwest has no planes aged 25 or older among its 798 aircraft. Nearly one-quarter of Frontier's fleet is less than two years old.

• United Airlines: 30.7% (share of fleet 25+ years old)
• Delta Air Lines: 27.6%
• American Airlines: 24.3%
• Hawaiian Airlines: 15.3%
• JetBlue: 5.7%
• Allegiant Air: 4.8%
• Alaska Airlines: 3.7%
• Frontier Airlines: 0.0%
• Southwest Airlines: 0.0%

Fleet age: Perception vs. reality

Travelers most often named Delta as having the youngest fleet. In reality, Delta's average fleet age is 15.0 years, tied with United and Hawaiian for the oldest average in the study. Delta also operates the oldest individual aircraft at 37.4 years old.

Frontier was the second-most-common answer when travelers were asked about airlines with the oldest fleet. It actually has the youngest fleet in the study, averaging 4.8 years, and its oldest aircraft is 11 years old.

Average fleet age, youngest to oldest:

• Frontier Airlines: 4.8 years
• Alaska Airlines: 9.5 years
• Southwest Airlines: 11.0 years
• JetBlue: 12.4 years
• Allegiant Air: 14.1 years
• American Airlines: 14.8 years
• Delta Air Lines: 15.0 years
• United Airlines: 15.0 years
• Hawaiian Airlines: 15.0 years

Travelers estimate the average U.S. passenger plane is about 20 years old. The average age across the nine airlines' fleets is just 12.4 years.

The oldest individual aircraft by airline:

• Delta Air Lines: 37.4 years
• United Airlines: 35.5 years
• American Airlines: 28.8 years
• Hawaiian Airlines: 27.9 years
• Alaska Airlines: 27.2 years

The Big Question: Do Travelers Care About Plane Age?

The survey suggests aircraft age matters to travelers when comparing flights, and many want airlines to make that information easier to find.

• 57% of respondents care about the age of the plane they fly on.
• 63% say aircraft age would influence their booking decision when choosing between two similar flights.
• 71% want airlines to disclose aircraft age during booking.
• 64% would pay extra to fly on a newer plane. An additional $26 to $50 was the most popular amount.

Check out the full results and learn how to determine a fleet's age by visiting the study online.

About Upgraded Points LLC

Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points is a travel company that helps to demystify the complex world of travel and credit cards. Launched in 2016 by Alex Miller, Upgraded Points uses targeted research efforts and in-depth studies to help travelers maximize their travel, points, and experiences. Learn more at: www.UpgradedPoints.com.

Media Contact:
Alex Miller, Founder
1-214-646-8866
[email protected]

SOURCE Upgraded Points