The number of low fare airlines in Europe and especially the UK, still continues to grow. There have been a couple of failures but the predicted "bloodbath" of airline bankruptcies has just not happened. Charter airlines are turning quickly into low cost scheduled airlines. Traditional full service airlines are cutting service and cost, and at certain times of the week, can offer cheaper fares than the cheapest low cost carriers. LowFareFlights compares fares from over 40 European airlines, including most UK charter airlines and a number of national airlines. Below is our independent guide to just a few of these airlines.
Irish regional airline, Aer Arann (often spelt Air Arann) flies to Ireland from 12 UK airports. This small reliable airline has the advantage of allocated seating, free baggage allowance, a freephone number and more flexibility. Latest routes now include flights from Birmingham to Waterford, more...
Germany's efficient low fare airline operates flights from 17 German airports, making it Germany's second largest airline. In the UK, AirBerlin offers flights from 5 UK airports to Germany and the rest of Europe. Most flights depart from their hubs at London Stansted and from Manchester, Glasgow and Belfast. Flights to Paderborn depart from Bournemouth more...
Ireland's second largest carrier has followed the trend for low-cost flights and is now in direct competition with no-frills airlines like Ryanair, but a business class is offered on longhaul flights. Aer Lingus concentrates on scheduled flights to the UK and a largely seasonal short-haul European flight network, plus 6 long-haul destinations to the United States more...
Bmibaby is the low cost wing of bmi which offers competitively priced flights from regional British airports to a good choice of major European holiday and business destinations, as well as a number of UK domestic routes. more...
easyJet offers flights from 11 UK airports to many major European destinations. There is lots of choice, particularly from Bristol in southwest England, London Gatwick and Luton in southeast England, and from Liverpool and Newcastle in northern England. more...
First Choice offers good value online charter flights from all over the UK to around 70 holiday destinations in Europe, plus plenty of very comfortable long haul flights. The main airport hubs with the most choice of flights are Birmingham, East Midlands, Glasgow, London Gatwick, London Luton, London Stansted and Manchester. more...
Exeter-based Flybe is a very popular low fare airline used for business and cheap day trips, weekend breaks, shopping, skiing, or for cheaper long holidays. Flybe offers a huge choice of domestic routes around the UK, including a large number of flights to the Channel Islands. Most of their flights to Europe depart from Exeter, Birmingham, Norwich and Southampton airports. Routes include a good range of destinations, particularly to France and Spain, plus flights to Austria, Portugal and Switzerland. more...
Germanwings is a major low fare European airline based at Cologne Bonn airport in Germany. From the UK, Germanwings operates scheduled low cost flights to Germany departing from London Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh airports. more...
German carrier Hapag-Lloyd Express is an internet-based low cost airline which trades under the name TUIfly.com. From its flight hubs in Germany, the airline operates quick and easy taxi-style flights to 9 European countries, including the UK and Ireland. From Britain, TUIfly currently offers cheap flights to Germany from Manchester, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Birmingham. more...
The Manchester and Leeds-Bradford based Jet2 received top rating for value for money. Customers of Jet2 regulary mentioned the low fares, punctuality, friendly and helpful staff. This airline is one of the highest standard low fare airlines in the UK. Jet2 won a recent Holiday WHICH readers poll ranking it amongst the most recommended airlines.
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My Travel Airways is a major UK charter airline based in Manchester. The airline is part of the MyTravel tour operator (formerly Airtours), but also offers a large choice of low cost flight-only charters to over 50 short and long haul destinations around the world via their MyTravel.com website. MyTravel charter flights operate from 22 UK airports. more...
Budget airline Thomsonfly operates most of its low cost flights to Europe from Coventry airport, Doncaster/Sheffield Robin Hood airport and Bournemouth International airport. Routes include destinations in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Czech Republic, Holland, Austria, France and the Canary Islands. Flights departing from a further 8 UK airports, (Manchester, London Gatwick and Luton, Birmingham, Cardiff, Newcastle, Nottingham East Midlands, Glasgow), to destinations in Spain will start in May 2006. more...
Ryanair started flying over 21 years ago from the tiny airport of Waterford to Gatwick. Now based in Dublin, it's become the largest low-cost carrier in Europe. The airline flies over 430 routes across Europe. Nearly a quarter of all Ryanair flights depart from London Stansted its main international hub. more...
Thomas Cook Airlines is classed as Britain's 2nd largest holiday airline. The popular sunshine charter carrier operates flights to most of the main Mediterranean holiday destinations from all over the UK, plus flights to the Gambia and Sharm El Sheikh on the Red Sea. Long haul flights are also on offer, particularly to Canada (Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec, Vancouver), also to Florida, Dominican Republic and Mexico. more...
The Dutch low cost airline Transavia offer budget flights from Glasgow Prestwick airport and from London Stansted airport to the Netherlands. more...
Excel Airways is a leading UK-based charter airline offering a good choice of bargain summer holiday flights to Europe, Egypt and the Caribbean from 12 UK airports. Various winter sun flights plus ski flights to Chambery, Geneva and Innsbruck are also on offer.
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Other airlines serving the UK:
See our unbiased guide to international full service long haul airlines.
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