Top 5 airlines according to passengers carried


British Airways and Spain's Iberia have agreed to merge to create the world's third-largest airline by revenue. The deal will create new holding company that will own both existing airlines with dual hubs in London and Madrid. The two will still fly under existing brands, run from dual hubs in Madrid and London.

Here are the top five airlines based on 2008 scheduled international passengers carried:

Rank: 1

Airline: Lufthansa

2008 int'l passengers: 42.2 million

Rank: 2

Airline: Air France

2008 int'l passengers: 32.5 million

Rank: 3

Airline: British Airways

2008 int'l passengers: 29.0 million

Rank: 4

Airline: KLM

2008 int'l passengers: 23.8 million

Rank: 5

Airline: Emirates

2008 int'l passengers: 22.4 million

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