In 2026, the title for the largest aircraft in the world depends on how you measure "size." By wingspan, the Stratolaunch Roc remains the undisputed champion at 117 meters (385 feet). It is a twin-fuselage giant designed to carry rockets to high altitudes for satellite launches. If measuring by commercial passenger capacity and volume, the Airbus A380-800 is the largest, with airlines like Lufthansa and Emirates continuing to utilize them for long-haul routes. Following the destruction of the Antonov An-225 Mriya in 2022, the Antonov An-124 Ruslan and the Boeing 747-8 (particularly the freighter variant) are the largest heavy-lift cargo planes in active operation. The Boeing 747-8 remains the world's longest operational aircraft at over 76 meters. While new aerospace prototypes are in development in 2026, these established giants continue to dominate the skies in terms of sheer physical scale and payload capacity.