List, Routes & Rankings of European Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs)

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European low-cost airlines / 歐洲廉價航空公司 / 유럽 LCC / 日本語

Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have become firmly established in Japan. While European LCCs don't offer flights from Japan, they are convenient for traveling around Europe cheaply or for inexpensive travel from the United States. With numerous routes and flights and short flight times, air travel is efficient if you want to visit European cities in a limited number of days. Some LCCs belong to the three major airline networks, such as Lufthansa, IAG, and Air France-KLM.

Please refer to the route map and destination list links to see where the airline flies. In addition to static maps, many airlines now allow you to select your departure city and then choose your destination city (very convenient!).

Low-cost airlines are great for European travel, and you can make good use of them by referring to reviews on Skyscanner and TripAdvisor, or by using your browser's translation function if there isn't a Japanese page on the official website. The travel information, full of local character, is also enjoyable.

⚠️European LCC Survival Guide: 4 Critical Tips for Avoiding Mistakes

"The tickets were cheap, but in the end it cost a lot..." Here are some tips from a pro on how to use low-cost carriers to avoid making that mistake.

1. Don't be fooled by airport names (Beware of Airport Names & Locations)

Even if a flight is advertised as going to "Paris" or "Frankfurt," it's common practice for low-cost carriers (LCCs) to use airports that are more than 100km away from the city center and resemble former military bases (e.g., Beauvais Airport, Hahn Airport).
Tip: Before booking, be sure to check the fare and travel time of the shuttle bus from the airport to the city center. The cost of transportation may even offset the difference in airfare.

2. Online check-in is mandatory.

With ultra-low-cost carriers like Ryanair, you may be charged a fee of around 50 euros just for checking in at the airport counter.
Solution: Check in using the official app 24 to 48 hours before departure (depending on your plan) and save the QR code boarding pass to your smartphone.

3. Assume that baggage fees will apply.

Currently, most European low-cost carriers charge extra for everything except one small bag under your seat. Even using the overhead bin incurs an additional fee.
Tip: If you have a lot of luggage, it's cheapest to choose a "baggage included" plan when booking, rather than paying a penalty at the airport on the day of departure. Size checks at the gate are very strict.

4. Choose your seat using "Taipa".

If you simply need a seat, no seat reservation is sufficient. However, if you're going to an airport with crowded immigration lines, or if you have a fixed train or bus schedule after arrival, reserving a "Front Row seat" is recommended.
Solution: For a small additional fee, you can be among the first to disembark the plane, which has the advantage of allowing you to avoid the long lines at immigration (which can add several tens of minutes to an hour!).

The key to smart travel is to accept that "LCCs are not places to buy services, but places to buy transportation in the smallest possible units."

[Pressable Table of Contents] European LCCs

Ranking of European LCCs
Who are the two best LCCs in Europe?

UK (United Kingdom) low-cost carrier
Jet2

Dutch low-cost carrier
Transavia

Spanish low-cost carrier
VOLOTEA Vueling Airlines

Spanish low-cost carrier
Vueling Airlines LEVEL

Czech low-cost carrier
SmartWings

German low-cost carrier
Eurowings

Norway's low-cost carrier
Norwegian Air Shuttle

ULCC in Hungary
Wizz Air

French low-cost carrier
French bee

Moldova's low-cost carrier
FlyOne

Latvia's low-cost carrier
airBaltic

Turkish low-cost carrier
Pegasus Airlines

Travel within Europe can also be organised
European flight search site

Ranking of European LCCs

There are many low-cost carriers (LCCs) flying through the skies of Europe. Which of them are considered particularly excellent?
Here are the top 10 Low-Cost Airlines in Europe 2025, according to the 2023 Best Low-Cost Airlines ranking by the British aviation rating company SKYTRAX !

1st place: Eurowings
Ranked 4th worldwide
2nd place: Vueling Airlines
Ranked 5th worldwide
3rd place: Volotea
Ranked 6th worldwide
4th place: Transavia France
Ranked 7th worldwide
5th place: Iberia Express
Ranked 8th worldwide
6th place: EasyJet
Ranked 10th worldwide
7th place : Ryanair
Ranked 11th worldwide
8th place : Jet2
Ranked 12th worldwide
9th place : airBaltic
Ranked 16th worldwide
10th place: Pegasus Airlines

European low-cost carriers (LCCs) have also ranked highly in global LCC rankings!

Who are the two best LCCs in Europe?

Ryanair and easyJet are considered the "two giants" in the airline industry due to their numerous routes, flights, and passenger numbers. Both have plenty of flights to and from London, making them convenient for those traveling from Japan. They also operate many popular routes within Europe.

Ryanair: Europe's largest ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC). With main bases in Dublin Airport in Ireland and London Stansted Airport, it serves over 40 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.; Ryanair route map; [Trip.com] Ryanair Flights and Airline Tickets

easyJet: Based at London Luton Airport, this is a leading British airline with a network throughout Europe. The striking orange of the aircraft (company color) is a striking feature. As the name suggests, it is known for being easy and relaxed.; easyJet route map; [Trip.com] easyJet(U2) Flights and Airline Tickets

UK LCC

Jet2: The UK's third largest airline, connecting 12 UK airports with Europe. There are many flights to the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and European leisure cities. Convenient access to ski resorts in France and Switzerland.; Jet2 Jet2 destinations and route map; [Trip.com] Jet2.com(LS) Flights and Airline Tickets

Dutch LCC

Transavia: Founded in 1965, this airline operates flights to Europe and North Africa. In addition to bases in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, it also has bases in France and Germany, and operates many routes from Paris (Orly). Transavia France is a group company.; Air France-KLM; Transavia Transavia destination list; [Trip.com] Transavia Flight and Ticket Booking

Search on Skyscanner

Spanish LCC

VOLOTEA: A Spanish low-cost airline. Serving Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and North Africa, including Algeria and Morocco. Cute checkered design.
VOLOTEA route map
List of destinations by country. Athens route is very extensive!; The Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Heraklion, Crete - TripAdvisor

Vueling Airlines: LCC (low-cost carrier) based in Barcelona, Spain and Rome, Italy. Serving Europe, the Middle East and Africa
Barcelona Route List (Start here!
Popular Ibiza routes; [TripAdvisor ] Top 10 Must-see Attractions in Ibiza
The Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Menorca - TripAdvisor

LEVEL: LCC (low-cost carrier) based in Barcelona, Spain. Operates from Barcelona to Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, and South America.; INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES GROUP; LEVEL Level route map

Iberia Express: Avios is a low-cost carrier (LCC) of the Iberia Group, based in Madrid and operating short- and medium-haul routes. In addition to cities on the Spanish mainland, it serves destinations such as the Balearic Islands (including Mallorca), the Canary Islands (including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote), Paris, Berlin, Dublin, Reykjavik, and Marrakech. Despite being an LCC, it is a member of the oneworld alliance and offers business class and Avios services.

Czech LCC

SmartWings SmartWings: Czech Republic's largest airline, based in Prague, began operations in 1997. Connects Czech Republic with cities and resorts in Europe and the Middle East.; SmartWings SmartWings destination list

German LCCs

Eurowings - book cheap flights

Eurowings: A German low-cost airline based in Dusseldorf. Operates throughout Germany and Europe. Many routes to Spain, Italy and Greece.; We will be gradually introducing "Premium BIZ Seats".; Lufthansa Group; When you arrive in Europe from Japan
You can fly direct from Japan to Eurowings' bases (Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, etc.) and then access other parts of Europe. For example,
Flights from Hamburg to London Heathrow (HAM-LHR)
Flights from Dusseldorf to Barcelona (DUS-BCN); Eurowings recommended routes
Mallorca: one of Europe's most popular resort destinations
Greece (Crete, Santorini): Perfect for resort trips
Italy (Naples, Rome): Areas with many tourist attractions

Domestic flights and flights to Germany
Eurowings Destination Countries List
Low-fare calendar; [TripAdvisor ] Top 10 Must-See Attractions in Mallorca
[TripAdvisor ] Things to see in Santorini - Check them out before you go!

Norwegian LCCs

Norwegian Air Shuttle: Launched in 2002. A Norwegian LCC (low-cost carrier) that flies to 112 destinations across Europe. Popular routes are from London to Stockholm, Oslo, Bergen, and Copenhagen in Northern Europe. They also fly to Italy, Spain, and other leisure destinations. The tail features a figure associated with Northern Europe.; Norwegian Air Shuttle Route Map; [Trip.com] Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA(DY) Flights and Airline Tickets

Hungarian ULCC (ultra low cost carrier)

Wizz Air: First flight in 2004. A ULCC (ultra low-cost carrier) based in Budapest, Hungary. It is also the largest airline in Hungary. Its main routes are in Europe (Greece, Spain, Italy, etc.) and Eastern Europe, and it also flies to Turkey and other Middle Eastern and African destinations.; Wizz Air route map; [Trip.com] Wizz Air(W6) Flights and Airline Tickets

French LCC

French bee: LCC (low-cost carrier) with its hub at Paris Orly Airport in France. It operates low-cost long-distance flights to Reunion Island, Tahiti, New York, San Francisco, etc.; French bee French bee destination list; [Trip.com] French Bee Flight & Ticket Booking

Moldova's LCCs

FlyOne: A low-cost airline based in Chisinau, Moldova, serving Europe, Russia and the Middle East.; FlyOne FlyOne route list; [Trip.com] FlyOne flight and ticket booking

LCCs in Latvia

airBaltic airBaltic: Based in Riga, Latvia. Latvia's flagship carrier and low-cost carrier. Serving the Baltic States, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus.; Recommended airBaltic routes
Flights to Mediterranean beach resort Larnaca (Cyprus)
List of Balkan Peninsula Flights
airBaltic airBaltic destinations; [TripAdvisor ] Top 10 Must-see Attractions in Larnaca

Turkish low-cost carrier

Pegasus Airlines: This low-cost carrier (LCC) is based at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) in Turkey. In addition to domestic Turkish routes, it operates extensive flights to various European cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, and Athens, as well as to the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa. It is also convenient for traveling via Istanbul to Antalya, Bodrum, Izmir, and Kayseri, the gateway to Cappadocia.

European flight ticket search site

Since there are many LCC routes in Europe, there are many flight search sites such as omio, Skyscanner, TravelUp, etc. I want to get used to it early along with the official airline sites and use it to make reservations wisely, including how much the average price is for the route I want to take, which LCC is flying, and which airports are departing and arriving at.

Omio: Train, bus and flight reservations in Europe and North America: Omio: Train, bus and flight reservations in Europe and North America
For travel and touring Europe and North America. You can search for plane, train, bus and ferry tickets at the same time. You can make reservations in Japanese and manage your itinerary all at once.

Opodo: Book cheap flights, hotels and package holidays on Opodo
One of Europe's leading online travel sites. The first subscription service in the travel industry to offer discounted flights and hotel deals.

Cheap international flight booking site - skyticket.jp -: Search cheap flights to and from the UK and other European countries

TravelUp: Worldwide Holidays & Flights Centre UK

Wego: Hotel and flight price search app

Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

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