Ryanair is Europe's largest ultra-low-cost airline, flying short-haul point-to-point routes from bases across the continent. Air Europa is a Spanish SkyTeam member based around Madrid, with European flights and long-haul services to the Americas. Travellers compare them mainly on flights within Spain and between Spain and the rest of Europe, where cheap fares meet a full-service alternative.
Quick verdict
Ryanair suits travellers on short European hops who will pack light and want the lowest fare. Air Europa is the better fit for those who want a full-service carrier, a Business cabin, SkyTeam connections or onward travel to the Americas via Madrid. Once bags, seats and boarding fees are added to Ryanair, the gap narrows, so compare total prices on your date.
Choose Ryanair if…
- You want the cheapest base fare on a short European flight and can travel with only a small bag.
- You are flying from or to one of its many bases, such as Dublin, London Stansted or Milan Bergamo.
- You don't need a lounge, a Business cabin or a connection to a long-haul flight.
Choose Air Europa if…
- You want a Business cabin or a long-haul connection from Madrid to the Americas on Boeing 787s.
- You collect SkyTeam miles or want alliance connections and the Suma programme.
- You prefer seat-back entertainment and meals on longer flights, rather than buying everything on board.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Ryanair operates point-to-point from around 230 airports in 36 countries, with its largest bases at London Stansted, Dublin and Milan Bergamo. It has no long-haul flights and does not connect flights for you. Air Europa is built around Madrid–Barajas, with Palma and Tenerife North as focus cities, and combines domestic and European routes with long-haul flights to the Americas. If you need a connection on one ticket, Air Europa is the one designed for it.
Cabins and seats
Ryanair has a single economy cabin, flown mainly on Boeing 737s, with no Business class. Air Europa offers Economy and Business. Its long-haul Boeing 787s carry the Business product, and an order for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s was firmed in January 2026 to renew the fleet. A bid-for-upgrade option to Business is available on some bookings.
Baggage and fares
On Ryanair, carrying both a large and a small cabin bag requires Priority Boarding, so check ryanair.com for current bag sizes and fees before you book. Air Europa's Economy fare includes a cabin bag plus a personal item, but the Economy Lite fare has no checked bag. Check the fare conditions of each before booking, as the two are priced differently.
Food, entertainment and lounges
Ryanair generally sells food and drink on board rather than including them. Air Europa offers seat-back films, series and music, Wi-Fi on most long-haul and some shorter flights, and meals on long-haul flights. It has no lounge of its own in Madrid; Business passengers use the Sala VIP Cibeles in Terminal 1.
Loyalty and ownership
Ryanair belongs to no alliance. Air Europa has been in SkyTeam since 1 September 2007 and runs the Suma programme. Spain approved Turkish Airlines taking a minority stake of roughly 25–27% in Air Europa on 4 June 2026, as Aeromorning reported, with European Commission clearance still pending at that point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ryanair or Air Europa better?
It depends on the trip. Ryanair is usually cheaper for a short, light-packing flight, while Air Europa gives a fuller service, a Business cabin and long-haul connections from Madrid.
Does Ryanair include checked baggage?
Check ryanair.com for current fees, as extras such as carrying both a large and a small cabin bag need Priority Boarding. Air Europa's Economy Lite fare excludes a checked bag, while its other Economy fares have different allowances.
Can I fly long-haul with Ryanair or Air Europa?
Only with Air Europa, which flies Boeing 787s to the Americas. Ryanair operates short-haul routes only.
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 Air Europa Read more
Overview
Air Europa is a Spanish airline founded in 1986 and, according to Wikipedia, the third-largest in Spain after Iberia and Vueling. It is owned by the Globalia group, is headquartered in Llucmajor, Mallorca, and has been a member of the SkyTeam alliance since 1 September 2007. Its loyalty programme is called Suma.
Ownership is changing. Aeromorning reports that Spain approved Turkish Airlines taking a minority stake of roughly 25–27% for about €300 million on 4 June 2026, with European Commission clearance still pending at the time of that report. FlightGlobal covered the original investment agreement.
Network and hubs
- Main hub: Madrid–Barajas.
- Focus cities: Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife North, per Wikipedia.
- Network: domestic Spain, European routes and long-haul services to the Americas.
Wikipedia lists about 44 destinations; check the airline's site for the current timetable.
Fleet
According to Planefinder, the fleet is 47 aircraft of four types: Boeing 787-9, 787-8, 737-800 and 737 MAX 8. Other trackers give different counts depending on what they include, so treat the figure as approximate. Air Europa also operates regional ATR and Embraer aircraft through Air Europa Express. In January 2026 it firmed an order for up to 40 Airbus A350-900s to renew its fleet.
On board
- Cabins: Economy and Business.
- Entertainment: films, series and music on long-haul aircraft.
- Wi-Fi: offered on most long-haul and some short and medium-haul flights, according to Kayak. A review of 787 Business noted a small free data voucher for Business passengers.
Good to know
- Baggage: Cabin Zero states that Economy Lite includes no checked bag. Third-party sources report a 10 kg cabin bag in Economy, and stricter limits on ATR and some smaller aircraft. Confirm your own fare on the airline's website.
- Lounges: Air Europa has no lounge of its own in Madrid; Business passengers use Sala VIP Cibeles in Terminal 1.
- Upgrades: Business upgrade bidding is available on some bookings.
- Punctuality and fees: no published figures were found for this profile.
Sources (2)
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