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The top-20 airlines by passenger numbers in 2024

There was minimal change in the ranking of the top 20 European airlines in 2024 compared to 2019, the last year before the pandemic. All the airlines that were at the top in 2023 have maintained their positions, with only one new entry compared to the pre-COVID-19 top-20 list.

In essence, the year 2019 remains a key reference point for the aviation industry, as it was the last year to run smoothly before the pandemic. Many airlines and airports are still striving to return to their pre-pandemic passenger traffic levels, making 2019 a crucial benchmark for recovery. Cyprus' airports, however, managed to recover as early as 2023.

The rise of low-cost carriers

The numbers clearly show that the aviation industry is now dominated by low-cost carriers. Of the top 20 European airlines, only eight surpassed their 2019 passenger numbers—five of which are low-cost carriers. In total, nine low-cost airlines are among the top 20, with five of them ranked in the top 10. This reflects their significant growth and the increasing preference among travellers.

This trend is far from coincidental. Low-cost airlines offer competitive fares, extensive destination networks, and frequently serve regional airports where traditional legacy carriers have limited presence.

Seeing the growing popularity and efficiency of the low-cost model, Europe’s major airline groups—such as the Lufthansa Group, IAG, and Air France-KLM—have developed their own low-cost subsidiaries (e.g., Eurowings, Vueling, Transavia) to adapt to the new market conditions.

Vueling, a subsidiary of the IAG group, even became the group’s second-largest airline in 2024. Meanwhile, Wizz Air, with 62.7 million passengers, surpassed several legacy carriers in individual performance, proving its dynamic presence.

The 20 largest European airline groups in 2024 (by passenger numbers):

  1. Ryanair Group – 197.2 million passengers
  2. Lufthansa Group – 131.3 million
  3. International Airlines Group (IAG) – 122.05 million
  4. Air France-KLM Group – 93.6 million
  5. Turkish Airlines – 83.4 million
  6. easyJet Group – 83 million
  7. Wizz Air – 60 million
  8. Pegasus Airlines – 32 million
  9. SAS Group – 30 million
  10. Finnair Group – 29 million
  11. Aeroflot Group – 28.5 million
  12. LOT Polish Airlines – 27.5 million
  13. Aegean Airlines – 25.2 million
  14. ITA Airways – 24.8 million
  15. Air Europa – 22.7 million
  16. Swiss International Air Lines – 22.4 million
  17. Brussels Airlines – 21.9 million
  18. Iberia – 21.5 million
  19. Vueling – 21.2 million
  20. Transavia – 20.8 million

  • This article first appeared in the 17th edition of Hermes Airports’ Flight Mode online newsletter. Click here to view it.

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