AirAdvisor Ranks Wizz Air Europe's Cheapest Airline for Holidays
AirAdvisor's new ranking reveals Wizz Air as Europe's most affordable airline for 2025, challenging common perceptions about low-cost carriers like Ryanair by factoring in all extra fees.
Many people in the Canary Islands are already searching for flights for their Christmas breaks. While travel websites and comparison sites are full of deals, it's often hard for holidaymakers to know which airline truly offers the best value. To help with this, AirAdvisor, a specialist in passenger compensation, has put together a list of the most affordable airlines for 2025.
Christmas is a popular time for getaways, with many people heading to European Christmas markets, snowy cities, mountains, or ski resorts. These trips usually require flying and planning well ahead of time.
When buying tickets, finding the lowest price is usually the main goal, which often means spending hours searching and comparing. Now, a specialist website has made this easier with an updated list of the year's most economical airlines.
The Christmas season is just around the corner, but before that comes Black Friday – a crucial time for buying airline tickets. Over that weekend, thousands of families book their winter holidays. AirAdvisor reports that airline ticket sales in November have soared by 800% over the past five years.
Many people think Ryanair is the cheapest airline, but AirAdvisor's European ranking shows that another low-cost carrier actually holds that title. AirAdvisor warns that "the initial ticket price no longer tells you if a flight is truly cheap."
AirAdvisor's report uses a metric called RASK (Revenue per Available Seat Kilometer). This measures how much an airline earns for every kilometer it offers a passenger, including all extra fees. In short, it shows the real cost a traveler pays, not just the advertised price.
"A nine-euro ticket can easily become a ninety-euro one if you add luggage, choose a seat, or even want to sit with your family," explains Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor. This study is therefore very helpful for anyone looking for Christmas flights who wants to avoid unexpected costs.
The Hungarian airline Wizz Air comes out on top in AirAdvisor's ranking. The company states that Wizz Air has the lowest RASK in Europe, at €0.0417. This Central European airline doesn't just offer the best price; it also beats many other low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Vueling in terms of overall value.
Among Spanish airlines, Iberia and its low-cost subsidiary Vueling are tied as the most economical. Iberia was ranked the second cheapest airline in the EU in 2023 but has dropped in the new classification due to higher fees and operating costs. A major surprise is Ryanair, which is now almost outside the top ten – a situation that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.
As the busy December holiday season approaches, travelers now have a clearer idea of which airline to choose for a Christmas getaway without breaking the bank.