Which is the cheapest European low-cost airline? Here are the latest figures

A surprising shakeup has occurred in the European low-cost airline rankings: according to a new German study, Hungary-based Wizz Air has overtaken longtime budget leader Ryanair. The DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt), Germany’s aerospace research center, found that Wizz Air now offers the most affordable fares of any discount airline in Europe for 2025.

Wizz Air tops major budget airlines for lowest prices

The DLR study compared one-way ticket prices without carry-on luggage for 15 low-cost carriers, departing from Germany. While Ryanair led the list in 2024, Wizz Air has now taken the top spot. The average ticket prices break down as follows:

• Wizz Air: €67 (HUF 26,812)
• Ryanair: €80 (HUF 32,014)
• easyJet: €86 (HUF 34,415)
• Eurowings: €130 (HUF 52,017)

Converted to Hungarian forints, that’s roughly between HUF 27,000 and 52,000 per one-way trip, highlighting Wizz Air’s competitiveness in the European market—particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where its fares are nearly half those of Eurowings.

Significant price shifts: Wizz Air drops while Ryanair rises

Wizz Air’s rise is not only thanks to its competitors raising prices—it has also slashed its own fares. According to Economx, in 2024, the Hungarian airline charged an average of €94 (around HUF 38,000) for a ticket. By the first quarter of 2025, that number had dropped to €67 (about HUF 27,000).

In contrast, Ryanair led in 2024 with an average ticket price of €66 (approximately HUF 26,500), but that rose to €80 (around HUF 32,000) this year. The €14 increase proved decisive in losing the top spot.