Ryanair is Ireland's ultra-low-cost carrier and the largest airline in Europe by passengers carried, while SKY express is a Greek airline based in Heraklion that focuses on domestic and island routes. Travellers compare them for trips to and within Greece, where a no-frills fare competes with a carrier offering more included extras.
Quick verdict
Ryanair suits travellers who want the lowest base fare, have flexible plans and will pack light or pay for extras. SKY express suits those who want a Greek domestic network with island links, higher fares that bundle bags, changes and lounge access, and a business option on some Airbus routes. Ryanair has the far larger European network, while SKY express is stronger for Greek domestic connections.
Choose Ryanair if…
- You want a low base fare and are happy to pay only for the extras you use.
- You are flying point-to-point across Europe or North Africa from one of its many bases, such as London Stansted, Dublin or Milan Bergamo.
- You travel with one small bag and don't need business class or flexible changes.
Choose SKY express if…
- You are connecting Athens, Thessaloniki or Heraklion with Greek islands, including routes flown by turboprops.
- You want a fare with a 23 kg checked bag, flexibility or lounge access bundled in (Enjoy, Bliss or Bliss+).
- You want a business fare (Bliss) with a vacant middle seat on Airbus routes such as Athens–Thessaloniki or Athens–Rhodes.
At a glance
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Key differences
Network and hubs
Ryanair serves around 230 airports in 36 countries with a point-to-point network. Its main bases are Dublin, London Stansted (the largest) and Milan Bergamo. It has no long-haul flights. SKY express operates from Athens, Heraklion and Thessaloniki, with 33 Greek and 22 international destinations. Ryanair is broader across Europe; SKY express is built around linking the Greek mainland with islands, plus Europe and Cyprus.
Cabins and seats
Ryanair has a single economy cabin. SKY express sells economy fares (Basic, Joy, Joy+, Enjoy) and, on Airbus routes only, Business (Bliss and Bliss+). Bliss+ includes a vacant middle seat and a cold canapé selection. Check the route's aircraft type before booking Bliss, as it is not sold on turboprop routes.
Baggage and fares
On Ryanair, carrying both a large and a small cabin bag requires Priority Boarding, a policy since 2018. Check ryanair.com for current sizes and checked-bag fees. SKY express Basic fares include one 8 kg cabin bag plus a personal item. Enjoy adds a 23 kg checked bag, and Bliss+ allows a 13 kg cabin bag and two 32 kg checked bags. Compare totals with bags added, not just base fares.
Changes, lounges and extras
SKY express higher fares allow changes for the fare difference, and Bliss+ changes are free apart from that difference. Same-day changes to an earlier flight are free on some fares. Booking by call centre or at the airport costs 10 EUR per person. The SKY Executive Lounge in Athens, Heraklion and Thessaloniki is included with Bliss, Bliss+ and Enjoy.
Fleet and operations
Ryanair Group had 651 aircraft in April 2026, mostly Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8-200, with 150 MAX 10 on order for 2027 to 2033. Some flights run under the Ryanair name via Buzz, Malta Air, Lauda Europe or Ryanair UK. SKY express has 29 aircraft, including Airbus A320neo and A321neo jets and ATR 72 turboprops for shorter island routes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ryanair better than SKY express?
It depends on the trip. Ryanair is usually the choice for low base fares and a wide European network. SKY express is better for Greek domestic and island connections and offers fares with bags, flexibility and lounge access included.
Does SKY express include checked baggage?
Basic fares include one 8 kg cabin bag plus a personal item. A 23 kg checked bag comes with the SKY Enjoy fare, and Bliss+ allows two 32 kg checked bags.
Does Ryanair offer business class?
No. Ryanair has a single economy cabin. SKY express sells Bliss business fares on selected Airbus routes, such as Athens to Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania and Rhodes.
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 SKY express Read more
Overview
SKY express (legally Cretan Aviation Operations) is a Greek airline headquartered at Heraklion International Airport. According to Wikipedia, it was established in 2005 by former Olympic Airlines executives and began operations in July 2005. It is not a member of an airline alliance. Note that its IATA code is GQ (not G3), with ICAO code SEH and call sign AIR CRETE.
Network and hubs
Operating bases are Athens, Heraklion and Thessaloniki. The ERAA member profile describes it as Greece's leading airline for domestic connectivity, with 33 Greek and 22 international destinations. Wikipedia lists 55 destinations in total. Domestic routes link the mainland with many islands, and international routes run to Europe and Cyprus.
Fleet
Wikipedia gives a fleet of 29 aircraft. A May 2024 report listed 27 aircraft: 2 Airbus A321neo, 10 A320neo, 1 A320ceo, 10 ATR 72-600 and 4 ATR 72-500. The turboprops serve shorter island routes; Airbus jets fly the busier domestic and international routes.
On board
- Economy fares: SKY Basic, SKY Joy, SKY Joy+ and SKY Enjoy.
- Business fares (Bliss, Bliss+) are sold only on routes flown by Airbus aircraft, such as Athens to Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania and Rhodes. Bliss+ includes a vacant middle seat and a welcome selection of cold canapés.
- Seat pitch, entertainment, Wi-Fi and meal details were not confirmed in the sources reviewed.
Good to know
- Baggage: the fare page shows basic fares with one 8 kg cabin bag plus a personal item. SKY Enjoy adds a 23 kg checked bag. Bliss+ allows a 13 kg cabin bag and two 32 kg checked bags.
- Changes: higher fares allow changes with the fare difference, and same-day changes to an earlier flight are free on some fares. Bookings via the call centre or airport offices carry a 10 EUR per person service fee.
- Lounges: SKY Executive Lounge in Athens, Heraklion and Thessaloniki is included with Bliss, Bliss+ and Enjoy fares.
- Infants: children aged 0 to 2 travel on a parent's lap at a 90% discount on the adult fare.
- Check the official website for current fares and rules, which vary by route and fare type.
Ranking
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