The Best European Airlines In 2025, According To Travelers

Whether you're jetting off on a month-long European backpacking adventure or planning a luxurious Mediterranean getaway, finding the right airline for your trip can make a massive difference between starting your vacation relaxed or arriving stressed, irritated, and even more exhausted than when you left home. With dozens of carriers competing for your business and attention — each one with its own set of policies in terms of amenities, baggage allowances, and in-flight experiences — the process of choosing can quickly become overwhelming. After all, your flight isn't just transportation ... it's the first and last part of your vacation experience.

And although price comparison sites make it easy to find and book cheap flights that won't break the bank, the reality is that the lowest fare doesn't always provide the best value when you factor in things like comfort, reliability, and overall service quality.

Thankfully, there's no need to try and guess which airline will meet your travel expectations. According to recent surveys from U.K.-based consumer watchdog Which?, European carriers come in all shapes, sizes, and with a significant difference in price tags. That said, gathering feedback across various categories from thousands of travelers — and taking into account everything from booking ease and on-time performance to seat comfort and cabin cleanliness — these experts have identified a long list of airlines that consistently deliver superior experiences both on and off the ground. And after sifting through specialized reports, industry rankings, airline service offerings, and online discussions, we compared findings across multiple sources before settling on the top five European airlines that consistently rank highest on travelers' lists — all so you don't have to worry about making the wrong choice again.

According to the Which? survey, Lufthansa received a 68% customer score for long-haul economy flights (for perspective, the highest-ranked airline, Singapore Airlines, only received 81%) for its ability to be on time, seat comfort, food and drink, cleanliness, and value for money. In terms of operations, the carrier also maintains a strong reputation for its consistently reliable service that typically ensures efficiency and punctuality.

Once onboard, Lufthansa offers passengers a comfortable in-flight experience with complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and a minimum seat pitch of 30 inches in economy, which is comparable to most airlines in Europe. Along with these standard perks, the airline is also lauded for its punctuality and operational efficiency, which includes modern fleet management and strong safety ratings. Lastly, Lufthansa's strength lies in its connectivity. Offering passengers access to 145 destinations throughout Europe with convenient connections through its Frankfurt and Munich hubs, the airline provides a comprehensive service that doesn't disappoint.

That said, the airline also has a few drawbacks that travelers don't find all too appealing. For one, Lufthansa's high operating costs often result in higher ticket prices compared to competitors. Additionally, its complexity of operations across multiple subsidiaries can sometimes lead to inconsistent service experiences. Lastly, the airline also faces increasing competition from low-cost carriers, particularly on short-haul European routes.

With a 71% customer score for short-haul flights on the Which? survey, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is an impressive contender on the list of 2025's best European airlines. Specifically, the Scandinavian carrier earned four stars for customer service, cleanliness, and cabin environment — as well as three stars for boarding, seat comfort, and value for money. SAS demonstrated excellent operational performance, with 77% of flights departing on time according to the Which? data and a moderate 1.4% last-minute cancellation rate.

Particularly praised for its efficient service and clean, modern cabins, the Scandinavian carrier is a strong choice for travel within Europe, especially travelers heading to Nordic destinations like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Outside of the Nordic region, the airline also travels to popular countries such as England, France, Spain, and Portugal, as well as underrated European destinations like Estonia, Albania, Romania, and Cyprus.

Along with a consistent 29- to 30-inch seat pitch in economy class, SAS also offers travelers thoughtful amenities like complimentary pillows and blankets on long-haul flights, and a modern entertainment system with a variety of movies, TV shows, games, and music options. Plus, with modern cabin features like USB charging ports at each seat, passengers can keep their devices charged without having to worry about potentially arriving at a new destination with a dead phone battery.

A household name, Air France received a 72% customer score in the Which? survey for long-haul flights, landing it among the top 10 economy airlines. With a strong reputation for reliability and service quality, the French carrier consistently earned three stars across all categories — including customer service, booking process, boarding, seat comfort, food and drink, cleanliness, cabin environment, and value for money.

Catering to passengers with thoughtful amenities and elevated meal service, Air France also stands out among European carriers. As a full-service airline, it offers a comfortable 31-inch seat pitch in economy — along with a discounted second seat policy that makes it a popular airline choice for plus-size passengers — as well as an onboard entertainment system with over 350 movies and TV shows, and USB ports available at each seat. Meanwhile, the airline's food service includes wet towels, complimentary alcoholic beverages, and multi-course meals. All of this helps set Air France apart from plenty of its competitors.

In terms of connectivity, Air France is a particularly strong contender thanks to its extensive route network which connects over 50 destinations across Europe. The airline's main hub at Paris Charles de Gaulle serves as a convenient gateway to major European cities like Vienna, Athens, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Rome, along with numerous regional French destinations from Montpellier to Nice. Plus, with a low 1.2% last-minute cancellations reported, Air France's operational reliability gives travelers confidence in their booking.

Coming in with a 73% customer satisfaction rating in long-haul flights according to Which?'s airline survey, Virgin Atlantic earned four stars across its customer service, booking process, and boarding experience categories. Meanwhile, the airline sits comfortably in the middle range with three stars for seat comfort, food and drink, cleanliness, cabin environment, and value for money. That said, one of the key advantages for travelers is that Virgin Atlantic flights are covered by the strong consumer rights protections maintained in the EU — even when flying from a U.S. airport.

Comfort-wise, Virgin Atlantic also promises a spacious economy experience, with seat pitches averaging 31 inches wide and modern amenities that enhance the journey. With aircrafts featuring plush padded seats with adjustable headrests, mood lighting, and 11.5-inch seatback screens loaded with entertainment options, passengers can enjoy a more premium experience even in economy class.

Beyond these comforts, the Which? report also highlights that Virgin significantly outperforms its main British competitor (British Airways) in overall passenger satisfaction — scoring higher in nearly every category from customer service to value for money. The airline's operational reliability is also impressive, with just 1.6% last-minute cancellations compared to British Airways' 2.2%, giving travelers more confidence that they'll depart as expected.

Jet2 emerged as the standout performer in the Which? short-haul survey, earning the top position with an impressive 80% customer score. The British leisure carrier received five stars for customer service, four stars for booking process, cleanliness, and value for money, and three stars for boarding, seat comfort, cabin environment, and food and drink. According to the data, 92% of passengers said the booking experience with Jet2 was good. As further proof, the airline's operational performance record is also particularly strong — with a remarkably low 0.1% last-minute cancellation rate.

Specifically praised for including cabin bags in the base fare and seating families together without additional charges, Jet2's policies set it apart from many other budget competitors who seem to charge passengers for even the smallest conveniences. Plus, with 72% of passengers who noted that airline staff were incredibly helpful during delays — compared to the 48% reported for Ryanair, for example — it's clear that the airline prioritizes customer care even when things don't go according to plan.

Despite being a U.K.-based carrier, Jet2 offers an impressive network of European destinations — serving over 70 locations across 25 countries. The airline is particularly strong in holiday hotspots like Greece, Italy, and mainland Spain, and also serves popular city destinations in France, Germany, and Hungary. This extensive network — combined with its customer-first approach — makes them an excellent choice for European travelers looking for reliable, value-for-money flights that don't sacrifice quality.

Although these five European carriers consistently demonstrated well-roundedness across the board, there are several other airlines that deserve recognition for their strong performance in 2025's rankings. For starters, Norwegian earned a respectable 69% customer score on the Which? survey for short-haul flights. The airline received four stars for customer service and booking process — making it an excellent budget option for travelers prioritizing value without sacrificing basic comfort.

KLM, the Dutch flag carrier, scored a solid 67% for short-haul flights, with four stars for customer service and booking process. Known for its reliability and extensive global connections through its Amsterdam hub, KLM offers passengers a consistent experience with complimentary refreshments and good value for money. That said, its 3.9% last-minute cancellations and two-star food and drink rating (yes, despite the beloved free sandwiches they give to passengers) suggest there's still room for improvement.

Finally, and despite placing lower in customer satisfaction with a 57% customer score for short-haul flights, British Airways maintains one of Europe's most extensive flight networks — connecting a total of 36 countries across the continent. Better yet, the carrier has recently invested a whopping $9 billion in fleet modernization and service improvements, which will hopefully lead to better passenger experiences in the coming years.

EasyJet — with a 61% customer score for short-haul flights — earned praise for its extensive route network that covers popular European destinations from the U.K. to Spain. Although it scored lower than other premium carriers, easyJet outperformed its budget competitors in nearly every category thanks to its straightforward booking process and improved cancellation rates.

Lastly, Wizz Air — although considered among the worst short-haul airlines in terms of passenger satisfaction — continues to expand rapidly across Europe with its ultra-low fares. For travelers prioritizing price above all other factors, Wizz offers some of the continent's most affordable options, particularly to Central and Eastern European destinations. Whether or not the compromised comfort is worth the small price tag is up to you.

To identify our top European airlines for 2025, we analyzed multiple independent sources, including data from the annual World Airline Awards from Skytrax and comprehensive airline surveys, including a survey from the U.K. non-profit Which?. Once we'd compiled this information, we narrowed the list down to airlines that appeared consistently across multiple rankings — giving weight to those that ranked highly in both industry evaluations and passenger feedback for their economy offerings.

Beyond that, our selection criteria also focused on specific key performance metrics that included customer satisfaction scores, on-time performance, cancellation rates, cabin comfort, and service quality. We also took into account the consistency of positive mentions across different sources, which we believe indicates reliable performance rather than isolated successes.

At the end of the day, each airline on our list proved to be successful across multiple categories — from booking experience to in-flight service — which ultimately suggests that they offer reliable quality across their entire passenger experience.