Europe's most and least expensive airlines, ranked

Choosing an airline is not only about the fare shown on the first search screen. Seat selection, luggage, route length, airport choice and the kind of network an airline operates can all change what passengers really pay. A new AirAdvisor ranking, reported by Euronews, compares 23 European carriers using revenue per available seat kilometre. The result gives a different view of airline prices: regional specialists and full-service national airlines tend to sit near the expensive end, while large low-cost carriers dominate the cheaper side.

What the ranking measures

The study uses RASK, short for revenue per available seat kilometre. In simple terms, it looks at how much passenger revenue an airline generates for each kilometre flown for each seat it has available.

That makes it broader than a basic ticket-price comparison. RASK can include revenue from extras such as checked baggage, seat fees and other paid add-ons, not just the headline fare.

It is still not a perfect measure for a single traveller. A route booked early with hand luggage only can look very different from a last-minute trip with bags and seat selection. But RASK is useful because it compares airlines across their networks and gives a sense of how costly they are in relation to distance and capacity.

Wideroe is the most expensive carrier in the ranking

The highest figure belongs to Wideroe, the Norwegian regional airline. AirAdvisor gives it a RASK of €0.32, far above the rest of the list.

That number needs context. Wideroe is not a typical pan-European budget airline. It connects many smaller and remote airports in Norway, including communities where flying is part of the basic transport network rather than only a leisure choice.

Smaller airlines often face higher costs per passenger. They may operate shorter routes, smaller aircraft, fewer seats, thinner demand and destinations with limited competition. Those conditions can make fares look expensive compared with airlines that fill large aircraft on dense routes between major cities.

British Airways is the priciest major national carrier

Among the bigger national airlines in the ranking, British Airways comes out as the most expensive. Its RASK is listed at €0.0888 for 2025, up slightly from the previous year.

The next most expensive major names are Air France and Austrian Airlines, both around €0.0850. Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines, KLM, ITA Airways and SWISS also sit near the upper part of the ranking.

That does not mean these airlines are always the wrong choice. Full-service carriers may offer better schedules, long-haul connections, alliance benefits, airport lounges, included cabin baggage or easier protection during disruption. For some trips, those things matter more than the lowest possible price.

The point is that travellers should compare the whole journey, not only the brand. A national airline can be good value on one route and expensive on another.

Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair are the cheapest

At the other end of the ranking, Wizz Air has the lowest RASK, at €0.0433. It is followed by easyJet, at €0.0521, and Ryanair, at €0.0556.

That confirms what many European travellers already feel when searching flights: large low-cost carriers can be very hard to beat on price, especially on point-to-point trips where the schedule works and extras are kept under control.

The gap can be meaningful. AirAdvisor estimates that choosing Wizz Air over Air France could save up to around €50 on an average European flight distance, although the exact saving will always depend on route, date, baggage and timing.

easyJet and Ryanair also show lower RASK figures than in 2024 in the data cited by AirAdvisor. That suggests competition remains strong on many short-haul European routes.

Finnair stands out among national airlines

For travellers who prefer a national or full-service carrier, Finnair is the notable value result. It is listed as the least expensive among the 11 major national European airlines included in the study, with a RASK of €0.0622.

That places Finnair much closer to the low-cost end of the table than to British Airways, Air France or Lufthansa.

For Portuguese travellers, TAP Portugal sits in the lower half of the ranking with a RASK of €0.0696. It is not among the cheapest overall, but it is below several major European flag carriers in the comparison.

Why low-cost is not always cheapest in practice

The cheapest airline in a ranking is not automatically the cheapest option for every trip. Low-cost fares often work best when the traveller is flexible and can keep the booking simple.

Before booking, check:

• Whether cabin baggage is included.
• The cost of checked luggage.
• Seat selection fees.
• Airport location and transfer costs.
• Flight times and overnight transport needs.
• Change fees or disruption policies.

A €35 flight can stop being cheap if the airport is far away, the return time requires a hotel night or baggage fees double the price. On the other hand, if you are travelling light and the route is convenient, the saving can be real.

How to use the ranking when booking

The best use of the ranking is as a warning against assumptions. A budget airline is not always uncomfortable or inconvenient, and a full-service airline is not always overpriced. The right choice depends on the route.

Search the same trip with all extras included before comparing. Add the bags, seats, payment fees and airport transfers you actually need. Then compare the total cost with the schedule and the risk of disruption.

It is also worth checking nearby airports. In Europe, a small change in departure or arrival airport can produce a very different price, especially around major cities served by several carriers.

Bottom line

AirAdvisor's ranking puts Wideroe at the expensive end of European aviation, largely because of its regional network, while British Airways leads the major national carriers on cost. Air France, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa also sit high in the table.

The cheapest end is dominated by Wizz Air, easyJet and Ryanair, with Finnair standing out as the best-value major national airline in the study. For travellers, the practical lesson is simple: compare the total trip cost, not just the first fare you see.