Best Low-Cost Airlines: 2025 Skytrax Ranking
A low-cost carrier (LCC) sells unbundled, no-frills fares — a seat from A to B, with everything else (bags, seat selection, meals, even printed boarding passes) sold separately. Some carriers go further as ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs), squeezing more seats per plane and charging for nearly every onboard item. Skytrax runs the most widely cited annual ranking, drawing on millions of audited passenger reviews across more than 100 countries plus its own product audits. Below is the 2025 top 20 — AirAsia takes the global crown for the 16th year running, with Scoot named the world's best long-haul LCC.
The Top 3
AirAsia
World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th consecutive year — an unmatched winning streak in the category.
Fees: Charges for checked bags, seat selection, meals, and most ancillaries. Generous hand-baggage allowance vs Western ULCCs.
Scoot
World's Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline 2025. Singapore Airlines subsidiary serving 70+ destinations on 787s and A321neos.
Fees: Fares unbundled; ScootPlus mid-tier adds bag, meal, and a wider seat. Optional bid-for-upgrade.
IndiGo
India's largest carrier by market share. Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & India 2025. On-time performance is class-leading.
Fees: Carry-on plus one personal item free. Checked bags and seat selection paid. No frequent-flyer programme historically.
Full Top 20 Ranking
| # | Airline | Region | Type | Notable distinction | Fee structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AirAsia Malaysia | Asia | LCC | World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th consecutive year — an unmatched winning streak in the category. | Charges for checked bags, seat selection, meals, and most ancillaries. Generous hand-baggage allowance vs Western ULCCs. |
| 2 | Scoot Singapore | Asia | LCC | World's Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline 2025. Singapore Airlines subsidiary serving 70+ destinations on 787s and A321neos. | Fares unbundled; ScootPlus mid-tier adds bag, meal, and a wider seat. Optional bid-for-upgrade. |
| 3 | IndiGo India | Asia | LCC | India's largest carrier by market share. Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & India 2025. On-time performance is class-leading. | Carry-on plus one personal item free. Checked bags and seat selection paid. No frequent-flyer programme historically. |
| 4 | Eurowings Germany | Europe | LCC | Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe 2025. Lufthansa Group subsidiary covering short and medium-haul European leisure routes. | BASIC fare excludes checked bag and seat selection; SMART/BIZ bundles include bag, seat, and snack. |
| 5 | Vueling Airlines Spain | Europe | LCC | IAG-owned Spanish LCC built around a Barcelona hub with strong intra-European network depth. | Basic fare hand-baggage only; Optima bundle adds checked bag, seat selection, and faster boarding. |
| 6 | Volotea Spain | Europe | LCC | Specialises in connecting smaller European secondary cities that majors avoid; A320 fleet. | Hand-baggage included; checked bag, seat selection, and priority all paid extras. |
| 7 | Transavia France France | Europe | LCC | Air France-KLM low-cost arm. Strong Mediterranean and North Africa leisure network from Paris-Orly. | Basic fare cabin-bag only. MAX bundle adds checked bag, seat selection, and priority boarding. |
| 8 | Iberia Express Spain | Europe | LCC | Iberia short-haul feeder for the Madrid hub. One of the most punctual European LCCs. | Basic excludes hold bag; bundled fares add baggage, seat selection, and Avios accrual. |
| 9 | Flynas Saudi Arabia | Middle East | LCC | Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East 2025. Largest LCC in the Gulf, covering MENA, South Asia, and Europe. | Light fare cabin-bag only; Value and Plus bundles add hold bag, seat selection, and meal. |
| 10 | easyJet United Kingdom | Europe | LCC | Largest UK-based LCC. Allocated seating, generous hand-baggage policy vs Ryanair, and strong European reach. | Standard fare hand-baggage only. Hold bag, seat selection, and Speedy Boarding all paid extras. |
| 11 | Ryanair Ireland | Europe | ULCC | Europe's largest airline by passengers. Aggressive ULCC pricing model and strict baggage enforcement at the gate. | Personal item only on cheapest fare. Cabin bag, hold bag, seat selection, and priority all paid — fees often exceed base fare. |
| 12 | Jet2.com United Kingdom | Europe | Hybrid | UK package-holiday-focused LCC. Includes 22kg hold bag in standard fare — rare among modern LCCs. | 22kg hold bag and 10kg cabin bag included by default. Seat selection paid. Strong customer satisfaction scores. |
| 13 | HK Express Hong Kong | Asia | LCC | Cathay Pacific subsidiary serving regional Asia from Hong Kong; A320/A321neo fleet. | Cabin bag included; checked bags, seats, and meals all paid extras. U-First front-cabin upsell available. |
| 14 | flydubai United Arab Emirates | Middle East | Hybrid | Emirates sister carrier covering 130+ destinations Emirates does not serve directly. Business class on most flights. | Lite fare hand-baggage only. Value adds hold bag and seat selection. Business class is a true flat-bed product. |
| 15 | Allegiant Air United States | North America | ULCC | Best Low-Cost Airline in North America 2025. Connects small US cities to leisure destinations like Las Vegas and Florida. | Base fare seat-only. Carry-on, checked bag, seat selection, printed boarding pass and water all paid extras. |
| 16 | airBaltic Latvia | Europe | Hybrid | All-A220 fleet — quietest, most fuel-efficient narrowbody. Baltic states' flag-carrier-style hybrid LCC. | Green fare cabin-bag only. Classic adds hold bag, seat selection, and snack. PINS loyalty programme. |
| 17 | JetSMART Airlines Chile | Latin America | ULCC | Indigo Partners-backed ULCC covering Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia with very low base fares. | Personal item only on Smart fare. Cabin bag, hold bag, and seat selection all paid extras. |
| 18 | SKY Airline Chile | Latin America | ULCC | Chile's other ULCC. Domestic-heavy network plus regional South America routes. | Zero fare seat-only. Cabin bag, hold bag, seat selection, and priority all paid extras. |
| 19 | FlyArystan Kazakhstan | Asia | LCC | Air Astana low-cost subsidiary serving Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia from Almaty. | Hand-baggage included; hold bag, seat selection, and meals all paid extras. |
| 20 | Jetstar Airways Australia | Oceania | LCC | Qantas low-cost subsidiary covering domestic Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia long-haul on 787s. | Starter fare cabin-bag only. Plus and Max bundles add hold bag, seat selection, and meal. |
World's Best Low-Cost Airline for the 16th consecutive year — an unmatched winning streak in the category.
Fees: Charges for checked bags, seat selection, meals, and most ancillaries. Generous hand-baggage allowance vs Western ULCCs.
World's Best Long-Haul Low-Cost Airline 2025. Singapore Airlines subsidiary serving 70+ destinations on 787s and A321neos.
Fees: Fares unbundled; ScootPlus mid-tier adds bag, meal, and a wider seat. Optional bid-for-upgrade.
India's largest carrier by market share. Best Low-Cost Airline in Central Asia & India 2025. On-time performance is class-leading.
Fees: Carry-on plus one personal item free. Checked bags and seat selection paid. No frequent-flyer programme historically.
Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe 2025. Lufthansa Group subsidiary covering short and medium-haul European leisure routes.
Fees: BASIC fare excludes checked bag and seat selection; SMART/BIZ bundles include bag, seat, and snack.
IAG-owned Spanish LCC built around a Barcelona hub with strong intra-European network depth.
Fees: Basic fare hand-baggage only; Optima bundle adds checked bag, seat selection, and faster boarding.
Specialises in connecting smaller European secondary cities that majors avoid; A320 fleet.
Fees: Hand-baggage included; checked bag, seat selection, and priority all paid extras.
Air France-KLM low-cost arm. Strong Mediterranean and North Africa leisure network from Paris-Orly.
Fees: Basic fare cabin-bag only. MAX bundle adds checked bag, seat selection, and priority boarding.
Iberia short-haul feeder for the Madrid hub. One of the most punctual European LCCs.
Fees: Basic excludes hold bag; bundled fares add baggage, seat selection, and Avios accrual.
Best Low-Cost Airline in the Middle East 2025. Largest LCC in the Gulf, covering MENA, South Asia, and Europe.
Fees: Light fare cabin-bag only; Value and Plus bundles add hold bag, seat selection, and meal.
Largest UK-based LCC. Allocated seating, generous hand-baggage policy vs Ryanair, and strong European reach.
Fees: Standard fare hand-baggage only. Hold bag, seat selection, and Speedy Boarding all paid extras.
Europe's largest airline by passengers. Aggressive ULCC pricing model and strict baggage enforcement at the gate.
Fees: Personal item only on cheapest fare. Cabin bag, hold bag, seat selection, and priority all paid — fees often exceed base fare.
UK package-holiday-focused LCC. Includes 22kg hold bag in standard fare — rare among modern LCCs.
Fees: 22kg hold bag and 10kg cabin bag included by default. Seat selection paid. Strong customer satisfaction scores.
Cathay Pacific subsidiary serving regional Asia from Hong Kong; A320/A321neo fleet.
Fees: Cabin bag included; checked bags, seats, and meals all paid extras. U-First front-cabin upsell available.
Emirates sister carrier covering 130+ destinations Emirates does not serve directly. Business class on most flights.
Fees: Lite fare hand-baggage only. Value adds hold bag and seat selection. Business class is a true flat-bed product.
Best Low-Cost Airline in North America 2025. Connects small US cities to leisure destinations like Las Vegas and Florida.
Fees: Base fare seat-only. Carry-on, checked bag, seat selection, printed boarding pass and water all paid extras.
All-A220 fleet — quietest, most fuel-efficient narrowbody. Baltic states' flag-carrier-style hybrid LCC.
Fees: Green fare cabin-bag only. Classic adds hold bag, seat selection, and snack. PINS loyalty programme.
Indigo Partners-backed ULCC covering Chile, Argentina, Peru and Colombia with very low base fares.
Fees: Personal item only on Smart fare. Cabin bag, hold bag, and seat selection all paid extras.
Chile's other ULCC. Domestic-heavy network plus regional South America routes.
Fees: Zero fare seat-only. Cabin bag, hold bag, seat selection, and priority all paid extras.
Air Astana low-cost subsidiary serving Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Russia from Almaty.
Fees: Hand-baggage included; hold bag, seat selection, and meals all paid extras.
Qantas low-cost subsidiary covering domestic Australia, New Zealand, and South-East Asia long-haul on 787s.
Fees: Starter fare cabin-bag only. Plus and Max bundles add hold bag, seat selection, and meal.
LCC vs ULCC: which is which?
Both sell cheap base fares, but the unbundling philosophy differs. A regular low-cost carrier (LCC) typically still includes a carry-on bag and lets you choose a seat for a small fee. An ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) charges for almost everything beyond the seat itself — and the ancillary fees can quietly double the ticket price.
- Carry-on bag — usually free on LCCs (easyJet, JetBlue, Southwest, Jet2). Paid on most ULCCs (Ryanair, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant, Wizz Air).
- Checked bag — paid on virtually every modern LCC and ULCC. Notable exceptions: Southwest (two free bags), Jet2 (22kg included).
- Seat selection — paid on LCCs and ULCCs alike. Random assignment if you don't pay.
- Beverages and snacks — usually free water on LCCs; paid on ULCCs (Allegiant famously charges for water).
- Seat pitch — LCCs usually 30-31 inches; ULCCs often squeeze to 28-29 inches with non-reclining seats.
- Change and cancel fees — ULCC fees are punitive ($99+ on Frontier and Spirit historically), while most LCCs now offer no-change-fee bundled fares.
Best low-cost airlines by region
The Skytrax 2025 list skews heavily Asian and European — a fair reflection of where the highest-rated LCCs operate. North American ULCCs rank lower partly because their unbundled-fee model attracts harsher passenger reviews.
Asia
- #1AirAsia(Malaysia)
- #2Scoot(Singapore)
- #3IndiGo(India)
- #13HK Express(Hong Kong)
- #19FlyArystan(Kazakhstan)
Europe
- #4Eurowings(Germany)
- #5Vueling Airlines(Spain)
- #6Volotea(Spain)
- #7Transavia France(France)
- #8Iberia Express(Spain)
- #10easyJet(United Kingdom)
- #11Ryanair(Ireland)
- #12Jet2.com(United Kingdom)
- #16airBaltic(Latvia)
North America
- #15Allegiant Air(United States)
Latin America
- #17JetSMART Airlines(Chile)
- #18SKY Airline(Chile)
Middle East
- #9Flynas(Saudi Arabia)
- #14flydubai(United Arab Emirates)
Oceania
- #20Jetstar Airways(Australia)
Pitfalls of booking ultra-low-cost
That $39 base fare can balloon to $200 once you add the things most travellers expect. Before booking a ULCC, model the all-in cost and the worst-case scenario.
- Fees can double the ticket — a Spirit or Ryanair fare with carry-on, hold bag, seat selection, and priority can land within $20 of a legacy carrier's bundled economy fare.
- Strict baggage enforcement — Ryanair and Wizz Air gate-check oversized cabin bags for €50-€80. Measure twice; their sizers are unforgiving.
- Schedule changes and cancellations — ULCCs run lean fleets with little spare capacity. A delay or cancellation often means waiting a day for the next flight on the same airline.
- Limited rebooking partners — full-service carriers can put you on a partner if your flight goes sideways. Most ULCCs cannot — you wait for their next departure or take a refund.
- Secondary airports — Ryanair famously flies to "London" airports two hours from London. Add ground transit cost and time.
- Fewer customer protections — in the US, ULCCs are not bound by interline agreements. EU261 protection still applies in Europe.
- Drip pricing — fees revealed step-by-step during booking. Always click through to the final price page before comparing fares against legacy carriers.
Source & citation
Rankings sourced from Skytrax World Airline Awards 2025 — World's Best Low-Cost Airlines. The 2025 awards were announced on 17 June 2025 at the Paris Air Show, drawing on a global passenger survey that ran from September 2024 to May 2025 across more than 100 customer nationalities. AirAsia's 16-year run as world's best LCC is the longest unbroken streak in any Skytrax category. Fee profiles are summarised from each airline's published fare-bundle structure at time of writing.
Care more about reliability than price?
See which carriers actually leave and arrive on time — on-time performance varies wildly between LCCs.