Ryanair

Ryanair leads the pack as Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, carrying 185 million in FY2024 across 3,600+ daily flights to 40 countries. Its ultra-low-cost model, which pioneered secondary airports and strict baggage fees, drives ancillary revenues to 30% of total—outperforming #2 AirAsia's ancillary share of 25%. The carrier maintains an impeccable safety record with zero fatal accidents in commercial operations. While polarizing for customer experience, it offers unrivaled route density at average fares 40% below legacy competitors like Lufthansa, proving that cost and coverage can coexist.