How many passenger aircraft fly around at a given moment?

The answer to this question is one that might surprise you. It is no secret that many prefer to travel by air, rather than by automobile these days. But at any given point, there are over 6,000 aircraft operating! While flying in the great big blue above, it might be hard to grasp this number as correct, especially as it is rare to see another commercial airplane in the same vicinity as the one you are currently in.

Until you are in the airport and see the many planes lined up, this might seem as though the number is inflated. But this number does not comprise only the United States, Great Britain, or the surrounding countries. The number is a worldwide count.

At the time that many commercial aircraft are in the air, so too are many smaller passenger planes, as well as privately owned crafts. Each plane must file a flight plan, as well as give the destination. Checks are provided along the way, helping to ensure that the craft makes it to the destination safely, and each plan checks to ensure that there are no mid-air meetups. If you are interested in tracking how many planes are in operation at any given point, there are apps that can be downloaded to provide you with up-to-date information.