When searching for a flight, the price of the ticket is not the only factor to consider. Luggage, seat selection, and other services can significantly alter the final cost. But which are the most expensive airlines in Europe? An analysis by AirAdvisor compared 23 European carriers using the RASK, that is, the average revenue per available seat-kilometre.
The metric provides an interesting perspective on the pricing practices of airlines and reveals substantial differences. In 2025, the RASK ranges from €0.32 to €0.0433 per passenger-kilometre. The ranking includes high-volume carriers, major national airlines, and significant regional carriers. Three airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, Volotea, and Air Europa, were excluded due to a lack of data.
The most expensive airline in Europe
Taking the top spot by a wide margin is Widerøe, a Norwegian carrier that specializes mainly in domestic Norwegian flights and in some European routes. Its RASK for 2025 reached €0.32 per passenger-kilometre, the highest value in the entire analysis.
The gap with Wizz Air, located at the opposite end of the table with €0.0433 per passenger-kilometre, is a substantial €0.2767 per seat-kilometre. Considering the average distance of a European flight, around 1,157 kilometres according to Eurocontrol, opting for a different carrier can translate into meaningful savings.
For routes served by both airlines, a possible alternative is Norwegian Air Shuttle, which shows an RASK of €0.0680. The difference with Widerøe is particularly pronounced and confirms a trend: smaller regional carriers can incur higher costs per passenger, especially on less-frequented routes or to remote destinations.
The ranking of the most expensive airlines in Europe
Immediately after Widerøe, the standings are dominated by large traditional carriers. British Airways is the most expensive high-volume carrier, while Air France and Austrian Airlines share the third place overall. Lufthansa and Aegean Airlines also sit high in the ranking.
Overall, however, the comparison with 2024 offers good news for travelers: among the 14 airlines considered, nine posted a decrease in RASK and only five saw an increase in the same metric. Notable declines include Ryanair, easyJet, Finnair, and Iberia.
Here is the complete ranking with the RASK for 2025 of the 23 most expensive European airlines:
- 1. Widerøe – €0.32;
- 2. British Airways – €0.0888;
- 3. Air France – €0.0850;
- 3. Austrian Airlines – €0.0850;
- 5. Lufthansa – €0.0845;
- 6. Aegean Airlines – €0.0839;
- 7. KLM – €0.0837;
- 8. ITA Airways – €0.0836;
- 9. Swiss – €0.0830;
- 10. Aer Lingus – €0.0807;
- 11. Brussels Airlines – €0.0797;
- 12. Eurowings – €0.0782;
- 13. SAS – €0.0758;
- 14. Vueling – €0.0749;
- 15. Turkish Airlines – €0.0729;
- 16. Iberia – €0.0708;
- 17. TAP Portugal – €0.0696;
- 18. Norwegian Air Shuttle – €0.0680;
- 19. Transavia – €0.0664;
- 20. Finnair – €0.0622;
- 21. Ryanair – €0.0556;
- 22. easyJet – €0.0521;
- 23. Wizz Air – €0.0433.
The RASK is calculated by dividing the annual passenger revenue by the available seat-kilometres. It does not simply correspond to the advertised ticket price, but reflects the average revenue generated by the airline in relation to the capacity offered. Because of this, the comparison remains indicative and, before purchasing, it is always advisable to check the fares actually available on the individual routes.
