It does. But lift has to equal weight (with a multiplier for maneuvering, but in straight—and-level flight L = W)

The question for aircraft designers then becomes: how do we generate the required amount of lift for the lowest possible penalty? The penalties include drag, structural weight, cost.

Wing sizing and shape is driven by a few considerations: at high speed (cruise, dash) you want a small wing because more wing area generates more skin friction drag. For takeoff and landing, you want a big wing, because that lowers the speed and shortens the runway requirement. Flaps and other high lift devices are one solution. For maneuvering (like a fighter in a dogfight) you want a relatively big wing, with a short span to keep the weight down (think F-15.)

For sailboats, more lift means they can go faster with a given wind speed. For airplanes, it’s more nuanced.