Compare Ryanair vs easyJet

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Both are cheap. Both service similar destinations within Europe. But which one is better?

Based on your reviews, this is how EasyJet and Ryanair rate against each other.



Ireland-based Ryanair prides itself on being a low-budget no-frills airline. From its airport bases located at Dublin and London Stansted, Ryanair operates a fleet of 306 aircrafts, maximum amongst them being Boeing 737-800 type. These fly passengers to as many as 179 destinations, the main area of focus being Europe although Morocco is included in the itinerary too. This airline was founded in 1985 and has its head-quarters at Swords with its advertising slogan being ‘Low fares made simple’.

Deregulation of aviation industry in Europe in 1997 enabled Ryanair to expand as a unit and establish itself as a low-cost airline. The strategy worked and in 2013, it was honoured with the largest airline award in Europe and busiest on the international platform in terms of number of passengers. However, low budget policy has its pitfalls and in case of Ryanair it is evident in form of sub-standard in-flight service, lack of washrooms on board and passengers having to print their own boarding passes. It also has tie-ups with secondary airports rather than main hubs so as to be able to make a landing without paying a premium.

Keeping in step with the trend of budget airlines, Britain introduced its very own version of low-cost travel in 1995, namely easyJet which has its head-quarters at Luton and treats the city’s airport as its main base. In addition to this, it boasts of 24 bases dotted all over Europe, a fleet comprising of more than 200 aircrafts and is ranked at second position right on the heels of Ryanair. The airline remains unchallenged in United Kingdom in terms of number of passengers that it ferries on an annual basis to various destinations spread over 32 countries and covered by close to 700 routes.

Owing to its bias towards A319, easyJet is the largest operator where this model is concerned and this conforms to its low-cost strategy. It also holds a number of honours, primary amongst them being the first European budget carrier to offer its customers online booking facility through an e-commerce website in 1998. Cabins in this airline have a capacity of seating 150 to 180 passengers at any given time and there is only one class. There is no provision of serving meals or beverages except through a buy-on-board programme, branded as ‘EasyJet Bistro’ and this is an important contributor to the airlines’ revenue. There is provision of in-flight entertainment in form of drop-down screens as also the option to rent media players.

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