airBaltic is Latvia's flag carrier, flying an all-Airbus A220 fleet from Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere. Ryanair is Europe's largest airline by passengers and fleet, and an ultra-low-cost operator. Travellers compare them on short European routes, especially those touching the Baltics, where both sell cheap fares with paid extras.
Quick verdict
Ryanair is the better pick for the lowest fare on a point-to-point European route, provided you travel light and accept strict add-on pricing. airBaltic suits travellers who want to connect through Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius on one ticket, or who prefer a smaller carrier with a single-type fleet. Neither is a long-haul or alliance airline, and airBaltic is cutting its fleet in 2026, so check that your schedule still operates before booking.
Choose airBaltic if…
- You want to connect through Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius on one booking.
- You prefer an Airbus A220 aircraft and a flag-carrier brand over an ultra-low-cost one.
- You value the airBaltic Club loyalty programme and fare options that vary by ticket.
Choose Ryanair if…
- You want the lowest base fare and will pack with only a small underseat bag.
- You are flying a point-to-point route from one of its many bases, such as Stansted, Dublin or Milan Bergamo.
- You want a large network and high frequencies, across about 230 airports.
At a glance
Search your flight
Key differences
Network and hubs
airBaltic is a hub carrier. Riga is the main hub, with bases at Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere and a seasonal base in Las Palmas, so it suits connections across the Baltics and to the Nordics and wider Europe. Ryanair is point-to-point and serves around 230 airports in 36 countries, with its largest base at London Stansted. It does not sell long-haul flights, and neither airline belongs to an alliance.
Fleet and schedule stability
Ryanair's group fleet was 651 aircraft in April 2026, mostly Boeing 737-800s and 737 MAX 8-200s. airBaltic flies only A220s, and Airline Geeks reported on 11 August 2026 that it would cut its A220-300 fleet from 54 to 36 by the end of 2026. Expect airBaltic frequencies and routes to change; Ryanair's network also shifts, with Berlin ending on 24 October 2026.
Cabins and onboard
Ryanair has a single economy cabin, and food and drink are sold on board. airBaltic also sells food and drink on board and operates on a pay-for-extras model, but it is a flag carrier with fare tiers that vary what is included. On a short flight, the main difference is the aircraft: an A220 against a 737.
Baggage and fares
Both airlines advertise low base fares and charge for extras. On Ryanair, carrying both a large and a small cabin bag requires Priority Boarding, a policy since 2018. Baggage, change fees and lounge access on airBaltic vary by fare. Compare the total cost with your bags and seat added, using each airline's booking page, rather than the headline fare.
Reliability and airports
Ryanair lost landing slots at Eindhoven in November 2025 after repeated delays. airBaltic is in a restructuring phase, with a new business plan and €225 million of interim financing announced in August 2026. Ryanair often uses secondary airports, so check transfer time and cost to the city. airBaltic mostly uses main airports such as Riga.
Frequently asked questions
Is airBaltic better than Ryanair?
It depends on the trip. airBaltic is better for connections through Riga, Tallinn or Vilnius. Ryanair is usually cheaper on direct point-to-point routes if you carry little luggage.
Does Ryanair include a large cabin bag?
Not on the basic fare. Since 2018, carrying both a large and a small cabin bag has required Priority Boarding. Check ryanair.com for current sizes and fees.
Are airBaltic and Ryanair in an alliance?
No. Neither belongs to Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. Lufthansa Group owns 10% of airBaltic, but that does not give alliance benefits.
About airBaltic Read more
Overview
airBaltic (legally AS Air Baltic Corporation) is the flag carrier of Latvia. According to Wikipedia, it was founded on 28 August 1995 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and the Latvian government, and began flying on 1 October 1995. The Government of Latvia owns 88.37% and the Lufthansa Group owns 10%. The head office is on the grounds of Riga International Airport, in Mārupe municipality. The airline does not appear to belong to any of the three major alliances.
Network and hubs
Riga is the main hub. The airline also has bases in Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere, plus a seasonal base in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) launched in 2023. Wikipedia lists 89 destinations. These are mainly European, with connections through the Baltic hubs.
Fleet
airBaltic operates only Airbus A220 aircraft. Wikipedia lists 55 aircraft in September 2026. Airline Geeks reported on 11 August 2026 that the airline would reduce its A220-300 fleet from 54 to 36 by the end of 2026. It plans to rebuild to 40 by 2031, well below its earlier target of about 100. It cited higher costs, weaker revenue growth and Pratt & Whitney engine delivery constraints. Travellers should expect the network and frequencies to change as the fleet shrinks.
On board
- Wikipedia states that food and drinks are sold on board.
- This page does not yet have verified details of cabin layout, seat pitch, entertainment or Wi-Fi. Check the airBaltic website before travelling.
Good to know
- The loyalty programme is airBaltic Club.
- Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access vary by fare. Confirm them on the airline's website when booking.
- The airline is in a restructuring phase. It announced a new business plan and €225 million of interim financing in August 2026 (Airline Geeks).
About Ryanair Read more
Overview
Ryanair is an Irish ultra-low-cost airline headquartered in Swords, County Dublin. According to Wikipedia, it was founded in 1984 by Christopher Ryan and Tony Ryan, and began flying on 8 July 1985 between Waterford and London Gatwick. It is the largest airline in Europe by scheduled passengers carried, fleet size and number of flights. The parent company, Ryanair Holdings plc, is listed on Euronext Dublin and Nasdaq. Its airline subsidiaries are Ryanair DAC, Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda Europe and Ryanair UK. Michael O'Leary is group chief executive. Ryanair does not belong to any airline alliance.
Network and hubs
The group serves around 230 airports in 36 countries and operates more than 3,500 short-haul flights a day. Its main bases are Dublin, London Stansted (the largest base) and Milan Bergamo. It also has bases across the UK, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Morocco and many other countries. Wikipedia lists Berlin as ending on 24 October 2026 and Thessaloniki on 25 October 2026. The network is point-to-point and focuses on Europe, North Africa and nearby regions. There are no long-haul services.
Fleet
As of April 2026, Wikipedia lists a group fleet of 651 aircraft:
- 410 Boeing 737-800
- 210 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 (197 seats)
- 26 Airbus A320-200, operated by Lauda Europe
- 1 Boeing 737-700, operated by Buzz
- 4 Bombardier Challenger 3500 business jets for engineering and crew transport
There are 150 Boeing 737 MAX 10 on order, with deliveries scheduled from 2027 to 2033. An earlier snapshot from Flightradar24 counted 611 aircraft in February 2026, so totals vary by source and date.
On board
Ryanair operates a single economy cabin. Seat pitch, in-flight entertainment, Wi-Fi and meal details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed. Food and drink are generally sold on board rather than included, but check the airline's website for current offerings.
Good to know
- Baggage: since August 2018, passengers must buy Priority Boarding to carry both a large and a small cabin bag, according to Wikipedia. Current bag sizes, weights and checked-bag fees should be checked on ryanair.com before travel.
- Punctuality: Ryanair lost landing slots at Eindhoven in November 2025 after repeated delays, according to Wikipedia. No on-time figure is quoted here because none was verified.
- Lounges and upgrades: none were identified in the sources reviewed.
- Group operators: some flights are operated by Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda Europe or Ryanair UK under the Ryanair brand.
Ranking
Related airline comparisons
Compare the airlines
Compare two airlines side-by-side to see the real difference
We use cookies to keep the site working, understand how it is used, and show relevant content and ads. Choose Accept all to allow them, or Reject all to keep only the cookies the site needs. Read more in our Privacy Policy.