Top 10 Most Reliable Low-Cost Airlines in Europe

Price is often the deciding factor when choosing an airline ticket. There’s nothing better before a trip than finding cheap flights. A popular solution is to book a ticket with a low-cost carrier, recognized for offering affordable flights around the globe. But what if the desire to save money doesn’t outweigh concerns about safety, punctuality, and reliability? Combining all these factors in one airline is no easy feat. Yet some have accomplished the “cheap and cheerful” mission – meet our list of the top 5 most reliable low-cost carriers in Europe!

Which companies are low-cost carriers?

Low-cost carriers are budget and ultra-budget airlines. They cut costs in many areas of flight operations (don’t worry, safety isn’t one of them), operating on the principle of “we’ll get you to your destination, and you pay for everything else yourself.” In practice, this results in several hallmarks, such as:

• Departures at off-peak hours – very early in the morning or late at night,
• The absence of business class, loyalty programs, and bonuses,
• Use of secondary airports,
• Many passenger services become paid extras – seat selection, baggage, meals, and beverages,
• A young fleet that costs less to maintain.

As a result, airplane tickets come at a lower price compared to those of traditional airlines.

Which low-cost carriers operate in Europe?

There are around 30 of them. You’ve definitely heard of three – Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet. Nowadays, many major carriers establish their own “daughter” companies in the form of budget airlines. These routes are in high demand and, consequently, profitable. For example, low-cost flights with very attractive fares exist under the umbrella of Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, Czech Airlines, and many others.

And which low-cost carriers fly from Minsk?

Unfortunately, only one – Russia’s Pobeda, the budget subsidiary of Aeroflot. Pobeda operates three weekly flights from Minsk to Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The average ticket price is only slightly lower than that of the “classic” airlines – around $100. Pobeda’s planes are new, and they even offer you a glass of water on board. However, their baggage policy is very strict – not a centimeter over the set limits is allowed.

Use our online flight search service from all airlines to easily and conveniently book tickets to any country in the world.

The Best and Most Reliable Low-Cost Carriers in Europe

For our selection, we combined factors such as punctuality, safety, passenger reviews, and route network development. Here’s what we came up with.

Eurowings

It might be surprising to see a relatively unknown “German” name in these parts at the top of the list. Yet, it has earned its spot.

Firstly, it is a subsidiary of Lufthansa. Its parent company closely monitors aircraft maintenance, pilot training, and flight standard compliance. So you can have complete confidence in its safety.

Secondly, Eurowings is the most punctual low-cost carrier in the world. Perhaps it’s the last German still upholding the stereotype of German punctuality. Over 95% of Eurowings flights arrive on time. Ready to fly? Let’s find an airline ticket right now.

AirBaltic

Not everyone may agree with including the Latvian national carrier in our list, as it doesn’t position itself as a low-cost airline. However, its business model is moving closer to that of a budget carrier every year: weekly promotions, simplified fares, no complimentary meals, an emphasis on economy class, and a unified fleet of Airbus A220s.

Speaking of aircraft – AirBaltic boasts the youngest fleet in Europe, with the average age of its planes being around three years. Admittedly, it’s a pleasure to sit in a modern, clean cabin that just rolled off the assembly line.

Another undeniable plus for the Latvian airline is its almost cult-like punctuality. The carrier takes great pride in being recognized as the most on-time airline in Europe and the world. You can find a low-cost AirBaltic ticket on our website

Norwegian

As the name suggests, in third place we have the Norwegian budget carrier. It ranks second in the list of Europe’s most punctual low-cost airlines: nearly 80% of its flights arrive on time.

Norwegian is a logical choice for those traveling to or from Northern European countries. While its tickets aren’t the cheapest in absolute terms, they are still more affordable than those offered by traditional carriers. At one point, the low-cost airline even launched ultra-budget flights to the United States, although those services are currently suspended.

Passenger care is also evident in that the Norwegian company was the first in the world to offer Wi-Fi on board. Ready for your next adventure? Let’s find a Norwegian ticket here

EasyJet

The British low-cost carrier, recognizable by its bright orange livery, primarily serves Western European airports. However, its route network is continually expanding and now includes 900 destinations.

In 2015, EasyJet became the first airline to use an artificial intelligence system to plan its schedule in an effort to combat delays. The results, however, aren’t perfect: only 67.5% of its flights arrive on time (which places it fourth in the European low-cost carriers punctuality ranking).

On the upside, flying with EasyJet is relatively comfortable. Unlike most other low-cost carriers, EasyJet offers a sort of business class option – Flexi Flare. This fare allows you to change your flight dates and destinations, includes free baggage, and offers onboard meals. Ready to trust EasyJet? Check out the available low-cost tickets on our website

Wizz Air

Finally, something familiar! Indeed, Wizz Air is very popular among Belarusians. From the airports in Warsaw and Vilnius, it opens up a huge world to us: its flights now not only cover Europe but also extend to North Africa, the Middle East, and the Persian Gulf countries.

The Hungarian carrier boasts a young fleet, and its crew pays close attention to cleanliness and order. The company ranks fourth among the world’s safest low-cost carriers. And of course, the price is a huge draw – you can save even more by joining the WIZZ Discount Club.

Rounding out the Top 10 Most Reliable Low-Cost Carriers in Europe:

1. Vueling Airlines. A Spanish airline under the International Airlines Group (IAG). In Skytrax’s ranking of Europe’s best low-cost carriers for 2025, it ranks second and is known for its punctuality.
2. Volotea. This Spanish airline was awarded “Best Low-Cost Carrier in Europe” by Skytrax three times, including in 2024.
3. Iberia Express. Another Spanish low-cost carrier from the IAG group, recognized for its high punctuality. In early 2025, it posted one of the best on-time performance records and is ranked 5th in Europe by Skytrax.
4. Transavia France. A French budget carrier that is part of the Air France–KLM Group. It ranks 4th among Europe’s best low-cost carriers according to Skytrax 2025.
5. Ryanair. The largest Irish low-cost carrier. Despite its mixed reputation regarding service, it consistently ranks among the safest and most punctual airlines.

What to Consider When Choosing a Low-Cost Carrier

• Safety. All airlines operating in Europe must meet strict safety standards. However, ratings such as Airline Ratings can provide additional insights.
• Punctuality. Flight delays are a common issue for budget carriers. Review reports on on-time performance, such as those from Aviation A2Z.
• Hidden fees. The final ticket price often depends on additional services: baggage, seat selection, and meals. Be sure to carefully review the airline’s terms and policies.
• Passenger reviews. Websites like Skytrax World Airline Awards publish ratings based on customer feedback, helping you gauge the overall level of service.

Which Airfare Is the Cheapest in Europe?

According to experts at Air Advisor, tickets on Wizz Air are the cheapest among European airlines. Strangely enough, the traditional carrier – Spanish Iberia – took the second spot. Third place is shared by the low-cost carriers Vueling from Spain and Norwegian. Rounding out the top 10 is the well-known Ryanair.

In the end, by choosing one of the top 10 most reliable low-cost carriers in Europe, you can enjoy a comfortable and exciting journey with affordable airline tickets without worrying about the quality of service.