Why Smart Companies Fly Low-Cost Carriers

Here's a number that should stop every CFO in their tracks: low-cost carriers now account for 33% of all intra-European air traffic. That's one in three seats. Ryanair alone carried over 180 million passengers in 2025, making it the largest airline in Europe by passenger numbers.

Yet most corporate travel management companies still can't book these flights. Their systems are built on legacy GDS (Global Distribution System) technology that Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet don't participate in. The result? Companies overpay for the same routes by 40-60%, simply because their travel tool can't see a third of the market.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Let's look at a real example. A team of 4 flying Berlin to Barcelona for a conference:

• Lufthansa (via Munich): €189 per person, 1 stop, 4h 20m total
• Ryanair (direct): €47 per person, direct flight, 2h 45m

That's €568 saved on a single trip — for 4 people. The Ryanair flight is also shorter and direct. Multiply this across 20-30 trips per month, and you're looking at €10,000-15,000 in annual savings on flights alone.

The argument that "low-cost carriers aren't suitable for business travel" is a relic of the 2010s. In 2026, LCCs fly the same routes, from the same airports (increasingly from main airports, not secondary ones), with comparable on-time performance.

Which LCCs Matter for Business Travel?

Ryanair

Europe's largest airline by passengers. Dominant on short-haul routes across Western and Central Europe. Their Ryanair for Business program offers simplified invoicing, multi-passenger bookings, and flexibility options — though most corporate tools still can't access their inventory.

EasyJet

Strong presence at major airports (Gatwick, Amsterdam, Berlin, Geneva). EasyJet's business fare bundles include flexibility, seat selection, and fast-track — making them genuinely competitive with legacy carriers on short-haul routes.

Wizz Air

The go-to carrier for Central and Eastern European routes. Budapest, Warsaw, Bucharest, Sofia — Wizz Air often has the only direct flights on these routes. For companies with operations in CEE, not booking Wizz Air means overpaying or adding unnecessary connections.

Others worth knowing

• Vueling — IAG-owned, strong in Spain and Southern Europe
• Norwegian — Competitive on Scandinavian routes
• Transavia — Air France-KLM subsidiary, good for France and Netherlands
• Eurowings — Lufthansa's LCC arm, but often priced between LCC and legacy

The Travel Policy Challenge

The main objection to LCCs in corporate travel isn't cost — it's compliance and control. How do you ensure travelers book within policy when they're using consumer airline websites?

This is where most companies get stuck. If your travel management tool can't book LCCs, travelers either:

1. Book the more expensive legacy carrier through the approved tool (costing 40-60% more)
2. Book the LCC themselves on the airline's website, creating an expense management nightmare

Neither option is good. The solution is a travel platform that integrates both LCC and legacy airline inventory in a single booking flow, with policy controls applied automatically regardless of the carrier.

What to Look for in an LCC-Friendly Travel Platform

• Full LCC inventory access — not just EasyJet (which is on some GDS platforms), but Ryanair, Wizz Air, and the full range
• Unified search — LCC and legacy results shown side by side, so travelers can compare easily
• Policy enforcement — the same rules apply whether it's a British Airways or Ryanair booking
• Centralized billing — all bookings on one invoice, regardless of carrier
• Baggage and seat selection — LCC ancillaries (checked bags, seat selection) should be bookable within the platform
• Change management — LCC change policies differ from legacy carriers; your platform should handle this transparently

Making the Business Case to Your CFO

If you're trying to get buy-in for an LCC-inclusive travel policy, here's your pitch:

• Same routes, lower cost: 40-60% savings on intra-European flights
• Better availability: LCCs often have more frequencies on popular business routes
• Direct flights: Many LCC routes are non-stop where legacy carriers require a hub connection
• Time savings: Direct LCC flights are often 1-2 hours shorter than hub-connected legacy alternatives
• Environmental impact: Direct flights produce 30-40% less CO2 than connecting flights

The companies that are still excluding LCCs from their travel programs in 2026 aren't being cautious — they're being inefficient. Every euro overspent on a flight that could have been booked cheaper on an LCC is a euro that could have gone toward hiring, product development, or that team offsite everyone's been asking for.

A Quick Comparison: LCC vs Legacy on Popular Routes

Here are average one-way fares on popular European business routes, comparing the cheapest legacy and LCC options (booked 2-3 weeks in advance):

• London → Amsterdam: BA €142 vs EasyJet €54 (62% cheaper)
• Berlin → Barcelona: Lufthansa €189 vs Ryanair €47 (75% cheaper)
• Paris → Milan: Air France €167 vs EasyJet €62 (63% cheaper)
• Dublin → Berlin: Aer Lingus €155 vs Ryanair €39 (75% cheaper)
• Warsaw → London: LOT €178 vs Wizz Air €52 (71% cheaper)

These aren't promotional fares — they're typical prices for standard business travel booking windows. The savings are real, consistent, and available on every trip.