Low-cost airlines: what they are and how they work + 26 low-cost airlines and 3 search engines

What are low-cost airlines

Low-cost airlines, low-cost airlines, discounters are low-cost airlines with efficient business organization, thanks to which ticket prices are greatly reduced. Most low-cost airlines:

They sell tickets online and do not spend money on the maintenance of air ticket offices.
Do not provide free food and entertainment. If you wish, all this can be ordered on board the aircraft or in advance, at the stage of booking.
They increase the number of passenger seats on the plane and do not allow choosing the location of seats for free. If you want to sit next to your loved ones - pay.
Hire fewer staff. As a rule, employees on board a low-cost airline perform several tasks at once, for example, loading luggage and cleaning the aircraft cabin.
They are using new aircraft. To eliminate repair costs, low-cost airlines use only new aircraft and, after several years of operation, sell them to other airlines.

What you need to know when buying a ticket

Buy your ticket in advance. The higher the occupancy rate of the plane, the more expensive the ticket price will be.
Register online. This can be done for free via the Internet, but you will have to pay at the airport.
Only buy the cheapest tickets if you are completely sure you will fly. On cheap fares, you won't be able to return your ticket if you cancel your trip. Therefore, if you are not 100% sure, choose the fare where the ticket can be returned.
Travel light. Cheap fares do not include free baggage. You can only take carry-on luggage with you, and you will have to pay extra for the luggage. If you can't do without luggage, register it on the website in advance - it will be 50-90% cheaper.
Buy additional services in advance. If you are going to order food on the plane or other services, do so in advance on the airline's website. This will be much cheaper than on board.

Below is a list of popular low-cost airlines for budget travel: 8 airlines departing from Russia and 18 without.

Low-cost airlines with flights from Russia

Eurowings

Low-cost airline of the major German air carrier Lufthansa with base airports in Cologne-Bonn, Dusseldorf and Hamburg. The company's aircraft fly almost throughout Europe, there are flights to the USA, countries in Africa and Asia.

Russian cities from which Eurowings flies

Moscow.
St. Petersburg.

Baggage

Baggage allowances depend on the fare. The cheapest one provides one free piece of hand luggage weighing no more than 8 kg and dimensions not exceeding 55 × 40 × 23 cm. You can also take a small bag or briefcase with you with dimensions not exceeding 40 × 30 × 10 cm;

Eurowings →

Airbaltic

Latvian national airline. Carries out both cargo and passenger air transportation. The main airport is in Riga.

AirBaltic is not a pure low-cost airline, but it sells economy class tickets so cheaply that it deserves its name. For more information on AirBaltic's destinations, click here.

Russian cities from which AirBaltic flies

Moscow;
St. Petersburg;
Kazan;
Sochi;
Kaliningrad.

Baggage

The amount of free baggage you carry depends on the fare. In the cheapest one, you can take hand luggage with dimensions of 55 × 40 × 23 cm and weighing no more than 8 kg for free + one personal item with dimensions of 30 × 40 × 10 cm.

Airbaltic →

Vueling

The second largest airline in Spain, one of the largest budget airlines. Vueling serves destinations in Europe, the Western Mediterranean and North Africa.

Russian cities from which Vueling flies

Moscow.
St. Petersburg.

Baggage and carry-on baggage

Each passenger has the right to carry one piece of hand luggage, which must not exceed a weight of 10 kg and dimensions of 55 × 40 × 20 cm (with an Excellence fare of 14 kg) + a personal item with dimensions of 35 × 20 × 20 cm.

Vueling →

Wizz air

Hungarian low-cost airline with airports in Hungary, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Wizz Air aircraft fly to 44 countries, making flights throughout Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Kazakhstan. It flies directly from Russia to Hungary: to Debrecen and Budapest.

Russian cities from which Wizz Air flies

Moscow.
St. Petersburg.

Baggage and carry-on baggage

Like other low-cost airlines, Wizz Air places strict restrictions on carry-on baggage. You can take hand luggage with dimensions 55 × 40 × 23 cm and weighing no more than 10 kg for free. By purchasing the WIZZ Priority service, you can also take a small 40 × 30 × 18 cm bag with you and put it under the seat.

Wizz Air →

Flydubai

Airline from the United Arab Emirates, based at Dubai International Airport. The low-cost airlines fly across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia.

Russian cities from which Flydubai flies

Samara.
Ufa.
Kazan.
Ekaterinburg.
Rostov-on-Don.
Moscow.
Mineral water.
Krasnodar.

Baggage

On the "Economy" tariff, you can carry hand luggage with dimensions of 55 × 38 × 20 cm and weighing up to 7 kg free of charge. You can also take a small bag with dimensions of 25 × 33 × 20 cm. The total weight of hand luggage is no more than 10 kg.

FlyDubai →

Air arabia

The largest low-cost airline in the Middle East with a base airport in Sharjah (UAE). The airline's aircraft fly to countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

In addition to regular flights, there is the Air Arabia Holidays service: ordering a tour package with a flight and a hotel room at reduced prices.

Russian cities from which Air Arabia flies

Moscow.

Baggage

You can take one piece of hand luggage free of charge with dimensions not exceeding 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing not more than 10 kg. It is better to check in your luggage online: you pay 90% less and you can choose the weight: 20, 30 or 40 kg. Only 20 kg can be checked at the airport.

Air Arabia →

Pegasus Airlines

Major low-cost airline, Turkey's second largest airline. Carries out passenger air transportation in Europe and Turkey.

Russian cities from which Pegasus Airlines flies

Moscow.
Mineral water.
Novosibirsk.
Krasnodar.

Baggage

You can take hand luggage with dimensions 55 × 40 × 20 cm and weighing no more than 8 kg for free. At more expensive fares, one piece of baggage up to 20 kg is also provided free of charge.

Pegasus Airlines →

SmartWings

Czech low-cost airline with daily flights between Moscow and Prague.

Baggage

At any fare, the passenger is entitled to one free baggage weighing up to 15 kg, one hand baggage with dimensions of 56 × 45 × 25 cm and weighing 8 kg, and one small handbag measuring 40 × 30 × 15 cm and weighing up to 3 kg.

SmartWings →

Low-cost airlines without direct flights from Russia

Norwegian Air Shuttle

Norwegian low-cost airline, one of the largest low-cost airlines with a main airport in Oslo. Norwegian aircraft fly throughout Europe, to North Africa, Asia, North and South America.

There is a Norwegian Holidays service for booking a flight and a hotel or a flight and a car. For such a reservation, they promise free transportation of one piece of baggage and the ability to choose good seats on the plane.

Norwegian Air Shuttle →

EasyJet

British low-cost airline. Operates domestic and international flights to countries in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

The site has a section "Travel Ideas" where you can specify your budget and get a selection of the best places to stay.

EasyJet →

Ryanair

An Irish low-cost airline with a base airport in Dublin, the largest low-cost airline in Europe. Ryanair serves over 1,600 destinations in Europe and flies to Morocco, Israel and Jordan.

Ryanair →

Blu-express

Italian low-cost airline. Destinations: Greece, Italy, Cape Verde, Mexico, Albania, Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Tanzania.

Blu-express →

Wow air

Low cost airlines from Iceland to Europe, USA, Canada and Israel.

WOW Air →

Cebu pacific

The Philippine low-cost airline serves 37 domestic and 27 international destinations in 17 countries in Asia.

Cebu pacific →

Condor

The German low-cost airline operates flights to the Mediterranean, Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean.

Condor →

Interjet

Mexican airline. Operates domestic flights and international flights to Latin America, USA and Canada.

Interjet →

Gol

The Brazilian low-cost airline operates regular passenger air services to the country's airports and beyond: to the USA, Latin America and Europe.

Gol →

Mango

South African low-cost airline with domestic flights.

Mango →

Atlasglobal

Turkish airline based in Istanbul. It produces regular and charter passenger air transportation within the country, as well as to European countries, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Kuwait, Israel, Cyprus.

Atlasglobal →

Sun Country Airlines

A low cost US airline operating in the field of scheduled and charter passenger services in the United States, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Caribbean.

Sun Country Airlines →

Flybe

British low-cost airline with flights to 85 European airports.

Flybe →

Transavia

Dutch low-cost airline. Flights from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven to cities in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, Italy, Spain, Morocco, Portugal, Finland, France, Croatia.

Transavia →

Nok air

Low-cost carrier in Thailand with domestic flights, as well as to China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Singapore.

Nok Air →

Air India Express

Indian low-cost airline headquartered in Mumbai. Operates in the market of passenger transportation from Indian airports to the countries of the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Air India Express →

AirAsia X

Malaysian low-cost airline, the most popular Asian low-cost airline. Provides passenger transportation throughout Asia, flies to Australia, New Zealand, France and the UK.

AirAsia X →

Jin air

Low-cost South Korean airline. It operates flights within Korea, to the countries of North-East and South-East Asia, to Guam and Hawaii.

Jin Air →

Find low-cost flights

With the help of search engines, you can find a suitable flight at a low price.

Flylowcost

Looking for the best price for medium low-cost airlines and regular airlines. In the filters, you can specify the airline, flight duration, number of transfers, baggage. There is a low price calendar.

After selecting a ticket, you are redirected to the booking aggregator site.

Flylowcost →