Finding the Best Flight Deals for Christmas
Thousands of residents in the Canary Islands are already scouring the web for flight deals for their Christmas holidays. With countless websites and comparison tools offering last-minute promotions, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, many travelers book their tickets without knowing which airline truly offers the best value this year. Specialized passenger compensation portal, AirAdvisor, has now simplified this process by releasing a definitive ranking of the most economical airlines for 2025.
Beyond the Initial Ticket Price
The Christmas travel season is about to begin, hot on the heels of Black Friday, a key date for snapping up flight tickets. During this weekend, thousands of families purchase their winter vacation flights. According to AirAdvisor, November has seen an 800% increase in airline ticket sales over the last five years. Contrary to popular belief, Ryanair is not the cheapest airline on the market. As the European ranking by AirAdvisor reveals, another low-cost carrier takes the crown. The company warns that “the initial ticket price is no longer a reliable measure of whether a flight is truly cheap.”
How the Real Cost is Calculated
AirAdvisor’s report is based on RASK (Revenue per Available Seat Kilometer), a metric that reflects how much an airline earns for every kilometer offered to a passenger, including all additional fees. This represents the real, final cost paid by the traveler, far beyond the advertised promotional price. “A nine-euro ticket can easily turn into a ninety-euro one once you add a checked bag, seat selection, or even the option to sit with your family,” explains Anton Radchenko, CEO of AirAdvisor. This makes the study particularly useful for anyone booking Christmas flights who wants to avoid nasty surprises.
The Winner and the Ranking
Hungarian airline Wizz Air takes the top spot in AirAdvisor’s ranking. According to the study, this carrier has the lowest RASK on the continent at just €0.0417. This Central European airline not only leads on price but also surpasses many other low-cost carriers like Ryanair and Vueling in terms of real-world accessibility.
According to AirAdvisor’s analysis, here is the current top 10:
- Wizz Air: €0.0417
- TAP Air Portugal: €0.0713
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS): €0.0750
- Norwegian Air Shuttle: €0.0760
- Finnair: €0.0760
- KLM: €0.0819
- Iberia: €0.0824
- Vueling: €0.0824
Spanish Airlines and Surprising Shifts
The most economical Spanish airline is Iberia, which is tied with its low-cost subsidiary, Vueling. Interestingly, Iberia was ranked as the second cheapest airline in the EU in 2023 but has since fallen in the rankings due to increased fees and operational costs. The biggest surprise is Ryanair, which now sits almost outside the top ten—an unthinkable position just a few years ago.
As the busy December travel season approaches, tourists now have a clear idea of which airline to choose for an affordable Christmas holiday without breaking the bank.
