Ryanair and Aer Lingus are both Irish airlines based at Dublin, and both fly between Ireland, the UK and continental Europe. Ryanair is Europe's largest ultra-low-cost carrier. Aer Lingus is Ireland's flag carrier, with low-cost-style fares in Europe and a transatlantic network.
Quick verdict
Ryanair suits travellers who want the lowest fare on a short-haul route and are happy to pay separately for bags, seats and food. Aer Lingus costs more on many routes, but it offers a more conventional product, higher fare types with more included, and the only long-haul flying of the two. For anything across the Atlantic, only Aer Lingus is an option.
Choose Ryanair if…
- You want the cheapest short-haul fare and will travel with one small bag.
- You are flying from a Ryanair base such as Dublin, London Stansted or Milan Bergamo, or to a smaller European airport.
- You don't need a lounge, alliance links or a premium cabin.
Choose Aer Lingus if…
- You are flying to North America, with economy, AerSpace premium economy or business options.
- You want fare types that can include more, such as baggage, depending on the fare you choose.
- You collect Avios through AerClub, or you want a flag carrier with codeshares across several alliances.
At a glance
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Key differences
Business model and network
Ryanair is a point-to-point ultra-low-cost carrier. It serves around 230 airports in 36 countries, with main bases at Dublin, London Stansted and Milan Bergamo, and it has no long-haul flights. Aer Lingus uses Dublin as its hub and Cork as a focus city. It serves about 97 destinations in Europe and North America. Aer Lingus UK ceased operations on 31 March 2026.
Cabins and seats
Ryanair has a single economy cabin on all flights. Aer Lingus short-haul aircraft are also single-class economy. Across the Atlantic, Aer Lingus offers economy, AerSpace premium economy (introduced 2019) and business. Its A321LR and A321XLR aircraft seat 184, including 16 in business. Ryanair has no premium cabin.
Baggage and fares
Ryanair's cabin-bag rules push passengers towards paid Priority Boarding if they want both a large and a small cabin bag. Check ryanair.com for current sizes and fees. Aer Lingus baggage allowances and change fees depend on fare type and route, so check the airline's website for what your fare includes. Compare the total price including bags, not just the headline fare.
Loyalty and alliances
Neither airline belongs to an alliance. Aer Lingus left Oneworld in 2007 but has codeshares with members of Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam. Its AerClub programme, launched in 2016, has four tiers (Green, Silver, Platinum and Concierge) and uses Avios. Ryanair has no comparable alliance links, so it suits travellers who book point-to-point and don't need connections.
Reliability and operators
Ryanair lost landing slots at Eindhoven in November 2025 after repeated delays. Some Ryanair-branded flights are operated by group airlines (Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda Europe, Ryanair UK). Aer Lingus Regional flights have been operated by Emerald Airlines under franchise since March 2022. On either airline, check the operating carrier and airport when booking.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aer Lingus better than Ryanair?
Aer Lingus offers more: premium cabins on transatlantic flights, fares that can include extras, and a loyalty scheme. Ryanair is usually the cheaper choice for a simple short-haul trip with hand baggage only.
Does Aer Lingus include checked baggage?
It depends on the fare type and route. Check the airline's website for what your fare includes before you travel.
Can I fly to the USA with Ryanair?
No. Ryanair operates short-haul flights only. Aer Lingus flies transatlantic from Dublin using A330 and A321LR/XLR aircraft.
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.
About Aer Lingus Read more
Overview
Aer Lingus is the flag carrier of Ireland. According to Wikipedia, the Irish Government founded it in 1936. It was privatised between 2006 and 2015 and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG). Its head office is in Cloghran, County Dublin, on the grounds of Dublin Airport. It is not a member of an airline alliance. It left Oneworld in 2007 and has not rejoined, though it has codeshares with members of Oneworld, Star Alliance and SkyTeam. It describes a hybrid model: low-cost style fares in Europe and full-service two-class flights across the Atlantic.
Network and hubs
Dublin is the main hub and Cork is a focus city. The airline serves about 97 destinations in Europe and North America, according to Wikipedia. Aer Lingus Regional flights have been operated by Emerald Airlines under franchise since March 2022. The UK subsidiary, Aer Lingus UK, ceased operations on 31 March 2026 (Wikipedia). Dublin to Indianapolis was announced for May 2025 using the A321XLR.
Fleet
The Wikipedia fleet table (retrieved 28 September 2026) lists 62 aircraft, all Airbus:
- 27 A320-200
- 8 A320neo (1 on order)
- 8 A321LR
- 6 A321XLR
- 3 A330-200
- 10 A330-300
Aircraft are named after Irish saints.
On board
Short-haul aircraft are single-class economy. The A321LR and A321XLR seat 184 passengers, including 16 in business class. The A330s have business class and economy cabins. Aer Lingus introduced AerSpace premium economy in 2019. A complimentary drink on transatlantic flights and free Wi-Fi for Smart Fare transatlantic economy passengers were announced in 2018. Check current inclusions when booking, as these details were not confirmed against the airline's website.
Good to know
- Baggage allowances, change fees and lounge access depend on fare type and route. Check the airline's website before travelling; they are not listed here.
- The loyalty programme is AerClub, launched in 2016. It has four tiers (Green, Silver, Platinum and Concierge) and uses Avios as its points currency.
- Aer Lingus has had 12 incidents in its history, including six hull losses, three of them fatal, according to Wikipedia.
- No on-time performance figure was verified for this profile.
Sources (2)
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