The most expensive European airlines – Which carriers’ flights cost more in 2026?

We break down Europe's most expensive airlines to reveal which ones have the highest average flight costs. Learn which European carriers to avoid in 2026.

Amy Lancelotte

By:  Amy Lancelotte

Last Updated:  August 3, 2026

TL;DR

• The most expensive airline in Europe is also one of the smallest – Norway’s Widerøe.
• Widerøe is 27.67 euro cents per seat kilometre more expensive than the cheapest European airline (Wizz Air). That difference can cost you hundreds of euros. 
• To avoid the high cost of Widerøe flights, consider Norwegian Air Shuttle instead. If the same route is available, it’ll save you money. 
• Smaller airlines typically have higher costs. Choose larger, high-volume, or major national carriers whenever possible.
• The overall trend is positive for travellers using European airlines. Compared to 2024, most airlines’ revenue per average seat kilometre decreased in 2025.

If you can get a better deal on a flight, you’d take it, right? All airlines are not created equal when it comes to price. So, we’ve compiled a list of the average cost per flight with Europe’s most popular airlines

In conjunction with our research into the best European airlines, we calculated the revenue per average seat kilometre (RASK) for each carrier. That way, you know which airlines to avoid (and which ones to choose) for your 2026 travel.

Here’s a snapshot of the data and parameters:

• We used 23 European carriers within 3 different categories: high-volume, major national, and notable regional.
• We excluded LOT Polish Airlines, Volotea, and Air Europa due to the absence of RASK data at the time of publishing.
• We found that the seat kilometre revenue in 2025 varied from as low as 4.33 euro cents to as high as 32 euro cents.

Ranking of the most expensive European airlines

Below is the final ranking by AirAdvisor of the most expensive airlines in Europe. It covers the current RASK for 2025 and a comparison with the previous year. Some airlines are new to our ranking and, therefore, are indicated as “N/A.”

Out of the 14 compared airlines, only 5 showed an increase in RASK year-over-year. The remaining 9 experienced a decrease, which is great news for travellers.

Methodology

The only metric used to calculate the most expensive airlines in Europe is the revenue average per seat kilometre (RASK), which is made up of:

• Annual passenger revenue
• Annual available seat kilometres

By dividing the annual passenger revenue by the available seat kilometres, we get each airline’s  RASK.

The most expensive European airline overall – Widerøe

#1

When you’re searching flights within Norway or to a few select European destinations, Widerøe should be the last airline you look at. This Norwegian carrier has the highest RASK of the group – and it’s not even close.

• Widerøe’s 2025 RASK is 32 euro cents. That’s 27.67 euro cents higher than Wizz Air’s. 
• The best alternative to Widerøe is Norwegian Air Shuttle, as this carrier will also have domestic routes in Norway. Norwegian Air Shuttle’s RASK is 6.80, more than 25 euro cents cheaper.
• According to Eurocontrol, the average flight distance in Europe is 1,157km. That means flying with Norwegian Air Shuttle vs. Widerøe could save up to €291.56 on a single flight.

The most expensive high-volume European airlines

#1

British Airways – Priciest national carrier

• With a RASK of 8.88 euro cents, British Airways is the most expensive high-volume airline in Europe.
• Compared to 2024, the 2025 RASK is an increase from 7.38 pence (8.50 euro cents).
• The only European airline with a higher revenue per average seat kilometre is Widerøe, so almost any other option in the list should save you some travel money.

#2

Air France – Consistently expensive

On last year’s list, Air France was already ranked the second most expensive airline overall. And the bad news is that the carrier’s RASK actually increased from 2024 to 2025.

• In 2025, Air France’s RASK was 8.50 euro cents, compared to 8.43 in 2024. 
• Wizz Air and easyJet both offer flights to and from France for significantly lower prices. 
• Choosing Wizz over Air France could save up to €50 on the average European flight.

#3

Lufthansa

Germany’s flag carrier, Lufthansa, offers good route coverage and a generally comfortable experience, but that’s definitely reflected in the total cost.

• In 2025, Lufthansa’s RASK was 8.45 euro cents.
• Lufthansa may be almost as expensive as Air France, but at least the trend is positive. The RASK decreased year-over-year.
• The difference between the most expensive high-volume European airline (British Airways) and Lufthansa is only 0.43 euro cents. That’s only a difference of about €5 per average flight.

Ranking: The most expensive high-volume European airlines

The most expensive major national European airlines

#1

Austrian Airlines – Priciest mid-range carrier

As a partner airline of Lufthansa, you may not be surprised that Austrian Airlines is also a generally expensive choice.

• Austrian Airlines is a newcomer to our rankings for 2026, but the airline’s 2025 RASK of 8.50 euro cents isn’t very encouraging.
• With this RASK, Austrian Airlines is among the top 3 most expensive airlines in all of Europe (tied with Air France), regardless of the size category.
• To find the best deals, use the Offers section on the Austrian homepage and select your departure point. Alternatively, you can click to see all offers and destinations. 

#2

Aegean Airlines – Well-rated but expensive

Although Aegean Airlines consistently ranks high on our list of the best European airlines, that’s not because of cost.

• With a 2025 RASK of 8.39 euro cents, the good news is that Aegean can say that they’ve improved (2024’s RASK was 8.40 euro cents).
• In this category, Finnair is the cheapest airline, and the difference between these 2 major national airlines is more than 2 euro cents.
• Aegean’s RASK is well above the category’s average of 7.58 euro cents.

#3

SWISS – Expensive newcomer to the rankings

It’s common knowledge that everything in Switzerland is expensive, and unfortunately, the country’s national airline is no different. 

• In 2025, the SWISS RASK was 8.30 euro cents, although as a newcomer, we can’t say whether the airline is trending up in price or down.
• Passengers in Europe are better off choosing airlines in neighbouring countries, or those that offer flights to and from Switzerland.
• A cheaper alternative to reach Switzerland is Ryanair. The airline flies from the UK to EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, which is technically in France.

Ranking: The most expensive major national European airlines

The most expensive notable regional airlines in Europe

Although this is a small category, the range of RASKs is huge – from as high as 32 euro cents to as low as 6.64 euro cents. We already know that the most expensive notable regional airline is Widerøe because they’re the most expensive overall. So, let’s move on to #2:

#2

ITA Airways – Just getting started

As the successor to the now-defunct Alitalia, ITA Airways is, in a lot of ways, just getting started. Founded in 2020, the hope is that prices will decrease as they grow.

• ITA’s 2025 RASK is 8.36 euro cents. So, as passenger numbers increase, the airline could find itself between Aegean and SWISS in the large national airline group if the RASK doesn’t improve.
• Even though ITA is on the pricier side, it’s nowhere near Widerøe – the difference is 23.64 euro cents per kilometre.

Ranking: The most expensive notable regional European airlines

How to avoid booking with expensive European airlines in 2026

To be clear, just because an airline has a high RASK doesn’t mean there aren’t deals to be had. The key with every flight purchase is to shop around. Use comparison tools and subscribe to the newsletters of all your favourites. Check out the airline’s website, because even Widerøe has a best prices right now section. 

FAQs

Why do flights on smaller European airlines often cost more per route?

Typically, it’s because they have higher operating costs per passenger because they fly fewer routes, operate smaller fleets, and often serve remote or low-demand destinations. With fewer seats to sell and less competition on many routes, ticket prices are often higher. But it’s not always true, so it pays to do your research.

Why use RASK to identify the most expensive European airlines? 

RASK measures how much revenue airlines generate per available seat kilometre, giving a clearer picture of real passenger spending. That means optional extras like luggage and seat fees are included, not just the advertised ticket price.

Why can two airlines flying the same route have drastically different ticket prices?

Airlines on the same route may follow completely different business models. Budget carriers often charge extra for baggage, seat selection, and other services, while full-service airlines include more in the ticket price. Prices also vary based on flight times, comfort, airport fees, and demand. 

Author:

Amy Lancelotte

Job/Position: Senior Writer & Content Strategist

Amy Lancelotte is a Senior Content Writer and editorial contributor at AirAdvisor with over seven years of experience producing research-based articles for international audiences. Her work focuses on travel, aviation, and air passenger rights, with an emphasis on factual accuracy, verified data, and clear, reader-first explanations.

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