Meet the contenders: a brief overview
Ryanair
Founded in 1985 and based in Dublin, Ireland, Ryanair is the largest low-cost airline in Europe by passenger volume. The airline also claims to be Europe’s Greenest Airline. It has received multiple industry accolades, including “Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline” by the World Travel Awards in the past. In February 2024, the airline also earned an ‘A-’ rating on climate protection from CDP.
easyJet
Launched in 1995 and headquartered at London Luton Airport, easyJet focuses on sustainability and operational efficiency. The airline has won awards such as “Best Short-Haul Airline” and is recognized for its fuel-efficient fleet.
Wizz Air
Established in 2003 in Budapest, Hungary, Wizz Air serves a wide network across Central and Eastern Europe. It operates one of the youngest fleets in Europe and has been recognized by the CAPA Aviation Awards as “Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe” in the past.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Founded in 1993 and based in Norway, the airline was hit hard by COVID-19; it entered bankruptcy protection in 2020, and reemerged in 2021 as a short-haul carrier focused on Europe and the Nordics. It has been repeatedly named “Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline” by Skytrax in the past.
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Comparing the airlines: factor by factor
Airline networks & fleets
Here’s how Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air, and Norwegian stack up in terms of fleet strength, base locations, and geographic reach:
Ryanair
Ryanair currently operates a massive fleet of 618 aircraft, primarily Boeing 737s. It serves 37 countries across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, with more than 90 operating bases. Key hubs include Dublin, London Stansted, and Milan Bergamo.
easyJet
easyJet operates over 340 Airbus aircraft (A319, A320, A321), and flies more than 1,000 routes across 35+ countries. Its strongest presence is in Western and Central Europe and operates in Northern Africa. It serves more than 600 routes with its primary hub at London Gatwick.
Wizz Air
Headquartered in Hungary, Wizz Air operates over 200 Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft and boasts one of the youngest fleets in Europe, with an average aircraft age of 4.7 years. It covers more than 100 destinations in 54 countries across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, with strong coverage in Europe.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Based in Norway, Norwegian Air Shuttle operates a fleet of approximately 86 aircraft, primarily Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX 8s. Currently, it operates in approximately 35 countries with more than 100 destinations.
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In-flight experience & comfort
Budget airlines tend to follow a no-frills, pay-per-service model, and that applies across the board. In-flight entertainment systems, Wi-Fi access, meals, and even extra legroom usually come at an additional cost.
That said, some still manage to deliver a better onboard experience than others. Here’s a quick look at the basic services:
Seat pitch
Norwegian Air Shuttle clearly leads in this category, offering slightly more comfort with a seat pitch of up to 31 inches on select aircraft. In comparison, Ryanair and easyJet average around 30 and 29 inches, respectively, while Wizz Air is the tightest, with 28 to 29 inches depending on the aircraft.
Wi-fi & entertainment
Norwegian stands out by offering free Wi-Fi on many short-haul flights and supports entertainment streaming on personal devices. Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air provide no in-flight entertainment or Wi-Fi, keeping amenities strictly minimal.
Food & drink
All four carriers follow a pay-as-you-go model for food and beverages, meaning meals, snacks, and beverages are not included in the standard fare and must be purchased separately.
Overall, all three airlines deliver a standard low-cost experience—functional, no-nonsense, and serviceable for short flights. But if comfort, connectivity, or in-flight perks matter to you, Norwegian offers a noticeably more refined and passenger-friendly experience without straying far from budget pricing.
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Baggage allowance
Budget airlines keep fares low, but they often do it at the cost of baggage allowances. It’s unavoidable, but knowing airline policies can help you pick wisely.
Cabin baggage
While policies vary by fare type, all four airlines allow passengers to bring a small personal item onboard for free, typically something that fits under the seat in front of you. Here’s what you get, including dimensions and weight limit:
- Ryanair:55x40x20 cm – 10 kg.
- easyjet: 45 x 36 x 20 cm – 15 kg.
- Wizz Air: 40 x 30 x 20 cm – 10 kg.
- Norwegian Air Shuttle: 30 x 20 x 38 cm – 10 kg.
For a basic travel setup, easyJet offers the most generous personal item allowance. Keep in mind, this applies only to small bags that fit under the seat, not cabin trolley bags, which cost extra on all airlines.
Checked baggage
Here’s what these airlines offer when it comes to checked baggage, including the dimensions and weight limit:
- Ryanair: 80 × 120 × 120 cm – 10 kg or 20 kg (added for a fee, not included in base fare).
- easyJet: Max 275 cm total (L + W + H) – 15 kg or 23 kg (priced differently, optional add-on).
- Wizz Air: 149 × 119 × 171 cm – 20 kg or 32 kg (included only in WIZZ Go/Plus bundles).
- Norwegian: 250 × 79 × 112 cm – 23 kg (included in LowFare+ and Flex; max circumference 300 cm).
Unlike cabin baggage, there’s no clear winner for checked baggage – it depends on your needs. However, easyJet and Ryanair let you customize your baggage needs regardless of fare type, giving them an edge.
For example, Ryanair’s Flexi Plus fare includes extra cabin baggage, flight changes, fast-track security, priority boarding, and premium seating. But if you only need a 10 kg checked bag, you can just buy that separately.
With Norwegian Air Shuttle, you’d have to pay for Flex Fares, which come with a full 23 kg baggage allowance – whether you need it or not.
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Airport location & accessibility
One of the biggest trade-offs with budget airlines is their tendency to use secondary or regional airports—smaller, less central hubs that help carriers reduce costs but sometimes can create extra hassle for passengers.
Ryanair
Ryanair avoids the primary international airport in major cities. For example, instead of flying into London Heathrow, Ryanair typically uses Stansted, Gatwick, or Luton—all of which require over an hour’s journey to reach central London and come with additional transport costs.
Wizz Air
Wizz Air follows a mixed approach. In some cities, it flies into secondary or regional airports, but in others, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, it uses the main international terminals.
easyJet
easyJet primarily operates from major public commercial airports across Europe. The airline maintains a strong presence in centrally located hubs such as London Gatwick, Milan Malpensa, Berlin Brandenburg, and Geneva. Its airport strategy focuses on slot-constrained, high-demand city airports, ensuring broad accessibility for both leisure and business travelers.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Norwegian Air Shuttle operates from major public international airports across Europe. Its primary hubs include Oslo Gardermoen, Copenhagen Kastrup, and Stockholm Arlanda. The airline focuses on providing convenient access for regional and short-haul travelers by utilizing well-connected, centrally located airports.
Ultimately, airport choice affects more than just arrival time; it impacts how much you’ll spend after landing and how far you’ll travel to reach your hotel or final destination. If price is your only priority, Ryanair’s secondary airports may be worth the trade-off.
On-time performance & reliability
To gauge reliability, we can look at two key factors: On-Time Performance (punctuality) and cancellation rates. These determine how dependable an airline is for timely operations, and naturally, reliable airlines earn a solid reputation.
Ryanair
- On-Time Performance: Between January 2024 and February 2025, Ryanair maintained an impressive 85% minimum punctuality rate, consistently targeting 90%.
- Cancellations: 0.16% cancellation rate, equivalent to one cancellation for every 607 flights.
easyJet
- On-time performance: In 2024, 28.93% of easyJet flights were delayed by more than 15 minutes, roughly one in three.
- Cancellations: Despite delays, easyJet kept cancellations below 1%.
Wizz Air
- On-Time Performance: Wizz Air consistently ranks low at 58.8% in 2025 so far. In 2024, BBC reports named it the least punctual airline in the UK for the third year in a row.
- Cancellations: 0.75% cancellation rate—equivalent to one canceled flight per 133.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
- On-Time Performance: As of February 2025, Norwegian reported an 84.7% punctuality rate, meaning most flights departed within 15 minutes of schedule.
- Cancellations: In 2023, Norwegian’s cancellation rate stood at 1.35%.
However, Ryanair takes the crown for reliability. As mentioned in the earlier section, with lower costs, quick turnarounds, less competition, and more slots, they get better control over schedules and reduce delays or cancellations.
However, customer service can become a weak spot. A study done in 2024 found Ryanair had a net satisfaction score of +28, and 49% of passengers struggled with issue resolution. So, if you’re after an airline that runs on time with minimal cancellations, Ryanair is solid. But if something goes wrong, dealing with their customer service might be a hassle.
Who is the clear winner?
No single airline wins across every category, and that’s exactly the point. The best low-cost carrier for you depends on what you value most: price, convenience, reliability, or onboard experience.
With that in mind, here’s our final verdict based on traveler type:
- The backpacker on a budget: Ryanair is unbeatable on price if you travel light and plan ahead.
- The family that needs flexibility & convenience: easyJet offers better baggage options, primary airports, and a smoother experience.
- The Eastern European traveler: Wizz Air is useful for specific routes, but expect delays.
- The comfort-focused flyer: Norwegian Air Shuttle provides free Wi-Fi, smooth service, and is best for short-haul travel across the Nordic region.
