Europe's Best Ultra Low-Cost Airline Carriers In 2026

Europe is the best region in the world for cheap air travel, with countless ultra low-cost airlines letting you hop from country to country for a fraction of what it costs in the United States—often so affordable that it’s not just faster than driving but, many times, even cheaper if you only bring a backpack and avoid luggage fees.

Here's a list of Europe's low-cost airline carriers.

Carriers

Ryanair

Europe’s biggest budget airline with an enormous point-to-point network across the continent—especially handy for hopping between secondary airports and lesser-known cities.

• Known for: tons of routes, frequent sales, ultra-low base fares
• Pros: huge coverage, multiple flights per day on popular city pairs, easy to snag deals if you’re flexible

easyJet

A low-cost carrier that mostly flies into primary airports—quicker into city centers and often smoother connections for onward travel.

• Known for: big presence in the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland
• Pros: primary airports, solid on-time performance, wide schedule on busy routes

Wizz Air

A go-to for Central/Eastern Europe—plus a growing footprint into the Middle East and North Africa—built around point-to-point routes from multiple bases.

• Known for: very low fares from cities like Budapest, Warsaw, and Bucharest
• Pros: strong coverage in Eastern Europe, lots of secondary city links, frequent promos

Vueling

Barcelona-based and part of IAG—great for Spain domestic hops and short-hauls around Western/Southern Europe with easy Avios tie-ins.

• Known for: Spain and Mediterranean routes, Avios earning via Vueling Club
• Pros: strong Barcelona and Rome networks, simple app/UX, handy for Iberia/British Airways collectors

Volotea

Focuses on small and mid-sized European cities—lots of seasonal routes that skip big hubs entirely.

• Known for: city pairs you won’t see elsewhere
• Pros: direct flights between “under-the-radar” regional airports, summer-friendly schedules

Pegasus Airlines

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen–based—great bridge between Europe and the Middle East/Caucasus with easy onward connections.

• Known for: wide regional reach beyond Europe
• Pros: competitive fares via SAW, good bank of connections east and south, modern fleet

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Short-haul focused within Europe—clean cabins, friendly vibe, and Wi-Fi on many aircraft.

• Known for: Scandinavia base strength, straightforward product
• Pros: good fares on Nordic routes, free Wi-Fi on many flights, solid city-pair frequency

Transavia

Air France–KLM’s low-cost arm—perfect for Western Europe to sunny getaways in Southern Europe and North Africa.

• Known for: Dutch and French bases feeding holiday routes
• Pros: easy pairing with KLM/AF itineraries, strong leisure schedule, straightforward booking

Jet2

UK leisure specialist—great for Mediterranean beaches and ski gateways, with package-style reliability.

• Known for: friendly service and generous baggage options compared to ultra-low-cost norms
• Pros: excellent seasonal schedules from UK regional airports, clear pricing, beach/ski focus

Eurowings

Part of the Lufthansa Group—bigger network logic and interline options when you want more structure for multi-leg trips.

• Known for: Germany bases and pan-Europe coverage
• Pros: access to Lufthansa Group ecosystem, wide city selection, transparent fare bundles

Carry-On Luggage Policies

🎒 Free Under-Seat Bag Only

With these airlines, the basic fare only includes a small personal item that must fit under the seat in front of you. Your backpack needs to stay within the airline’s size limits:

• easyJet: 45 x 36 x 20 cm — no strict weight limit
• Ryanair: 40 x 30 x 20 cm — about the size of a standard 20L daypack
• Wizz Air: 40 x 30 x 20 cm — max 10 kg
• Transavia: 40 x 30 x 20 cm — max 10 kg
• Vueling: 40 x 30 x 20 cm
• Norwegian Air Shuttle: 40 x 30 x 20 cm
• Volotea: 35 x 35 x 20 cm — a more square-shaped allowance, with a 10 kg combined weight limit that can also include airport shopping
• Pegasus Airlines: 40 x 30 x 15 cm — one of the strictest allowances, with a max weight of just 3 kg

✈️ Free Overhead Carry-On + Personal Item

• Jet2: Jet2 gives you much more baggage room with its standard fare. Your ticket includes both a small personal item for under the seat and a larger 10 kg carry-on bag measuring up to 56 x 45 x 25 cm for the overhead locker at no extra charge

Compare European Low-Cost Airline Carriers

Hidden Fees to Watch

• Bag policies: Lowest tiers often include personal item only; a standard cabin bag that is over the free size can increase cost quickly.
• Seat selection: Window/aisle picks and extra-legroom seats come with a fee.
• Check-in/boarding: Some airlines charge if you don’t check in online or need a boarding-pass reprint.
• Food & drink: Rarely included; prices onboard are higher than you’d expect for a short hop.

These airlines keep their base fares incredibly low by charging extra for many of the add-ons other carriers include. But if you’re a backpacker who can pack light and skip the extras, you can collect a lot of passport stamps without spending much on flights.