The number of planes that take off every day varies greatly depending on a number of factors such as location, airport size, and time of day. In general, the larger the airport and the more flights it offers, the greater the number of planes that take off daily.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), in 2019 there were approximately 39 million scheduled commercial flights worldwide. This works out to an average of approximately 107,000 flights per day. These figures, however, are subject to significant fluctuations due to events such as weather, strikes, and pandemics.
To get a more accurate picture of the number of planes that take off daily, it is necessary to look at specific airports or regions. For example, the busiest airport in the world in terms of passenger traffic is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States. In 2019, this airport handled approximately 110 million passengers and over 900,000 aircraft movements. This works out to an average of approximately 2,500 takeoffs and landings per day.
Similarly, the busiest airport in Europe is London Heathrow Airport, which handled over 80 million passengers and over 475,000 aircraft movements in 2019. This works out to an average of approximately 1,300 takeoffs and landings per day.
It is worth noting that not all aircraft movements at airports are commercial flights. For example, many airports also handle private jets, military aircraft, and cargo flights. These flights are typically included in the overall count of aircraft movements but may not be included in the count of commercial flights.
Another factor that can impact the number of planes that take off daily is the time of day. In general, airports are busiest during peak travel times, such as mornings and evenings when many people are traveling to or from work or taking vacations. During off-peak times, such as late at night or early in the morning, the number of planes taking off may be lower.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact on the number of planes taking off daily. In 2020, global air traffic saw a dramatic decline as many countries implemented travel restrictions and people canceled their travel plans due to health concerns. According to IATA, in 2020 global air traffic fell by approximately 65% compared to 2019, and the number of flights per day dropped to approximately 28,000.
In summary, the number of planes that take off daily varies greatly depending on a number of factors such as location, airport size, and time of day. On average, there were approximately 107,000 scheduled commercial flights per day worldwide in 2019, but this figure is subject to significant fluctuations due to events such as weather, strikes, and pandemics. The busiest airports in the world typically handle thousands of takeoffs and landings per day, with the number varying depending on the specific airport and time of day. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on air travel, with the number of planes taking off daily dropping dramatically in 2020.