European aviation marked a significant milestone in 2024 with over 1,356 new routes launched across the continent, averaging nearly four daily route inaugurations.
The low-cost carriers dominated the expansion, with Ryanair (FR) and easyJet (U2) leading the charge by launching 208 and 155 new routes respectively.
Photo: By MarcelX42 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=119387148Ryanair Launched 200 New Routes
Ryanair (FR), Europe’s leading low-cost carrier, has demonstrated its aggressive growth strategy by launching 208 new routes in 2024, reinforcing its position as the continent’s most expansive airline.
According to Ralph Anker, The new routes represent 15% of all European route launches in 2024. The number shows a strategic shift but falls below Ryanair’s usual target of 300 routes.
Their expansion focused on connecting major cities with underserved regional destinations. The airline’s growth strategy aims to capture new markets across different European regions.
Competition from easyJet pushed Ryanair to explore fresh opportunities in various markets. The expansion demonstrates Ryanair’s commitment to maintaining its market leadership position, data from Cirium.
Each new route carefully targets areas with growth potential and limited competition.
Photo: By FlightReal – Flickr: Airbus A319 Easyjet, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15223464Top 15 Airlines with New European Routes
European skies welcomed an unprecedented wave of expansion in 2024, with 154 airlines launching 1,356 new routes across the continent.
The top 15 Airlines, led by Ryanair (FR) and easyJet (U2) with 208 and 155 new routes respectively, accounted for nearly half of all new route launches, marking a significant shift in the region’s air connectivity landscape.
Here’s the top 15 airlines with new European routes in 2024.
| 1 | Ryanair (FR) | 208 |
| 2 | easyJet (U2) | 155 |
| 3 | Norwegian (DY) | 62 |
| 4 | Wizz Air (W6) | 57 |
| 5 | Eurowings (EW) | 52 |
| 6 | Volotea (V7) | 52 |
| 7 | Jet2.com (LS) | 49 |
| 8 | Transavia France (TO) | 41 |
| 9 | SunExpress (XQ) | 40 |
| 10 | Pegasus Airlines (PC) | 34 |
| 11 | airBaltic (BT) | 23 |
| 12 | Sky Express (GQ) | 21 |
| 13 | Condor (DE) | 19 |
| 14 | Air Arabia Maroc (3O) | 17 |
| 15 | Aeroitalia (XZ) | 16 |
Photo: Wizz AirAirlines’ Route Expansion Strategy
The European aviation sector demonstrated remarkable growth in 2024, with carriers launching 1,356 new routes.
Low-cost carriers dominated this expansion, with Ryanair leading by introducing 208 new routes, followed by easyJet with 155 routes.
The significant gap between these two market leaders and the rest of the field – Norwegian in third place with 62 routes, highlights the aggressive expansion strategies of the leading budget airlines.
The strategic focus appears to be on point-to-point connections, with particular emphasis on leisure destinations and underserved markets.
Notably, Wizz Air (W6) and Eurowings (EW), with 57 and 52 new routes respectively, have also made substantial contributions to the market’s growth.
Photo: Kevin Hackert | FlickrMonthly Route Launch
The data reveals clear seasonal patterns in route launches throughout 2024:
- January started modestly with 22 new routes
- February saw a slight increase with 26 launches
- March marked the beginning of spring expansion with 130 routes
- April showed peak activity with 221 new routes
- May continued strong with 190 routes
- June reached the highest point with 234 new routes
- July maintained momentum with 97 routes
- August slowed to 24 routes
- September picked up with 40 routes
- October showed renewed activity with 179 routes
- November maintained steady growth with 103 routes
- December concluded the year with 90 new routes
This pattern clearly demonstrates airlines’ preference for launching routes before peak summer and autumn travel seasons.
Photo: EurospotLegacy Carriers vs Low-Cost Airlines
The contrast between legacy carriers and low-cost airlines is striking in their approach to route expansion. Traditional flag carriers showed more conservative growth:
- Air France (AF), Lufthansa (LH), and Turkish Airlines (TK) each launched only 7 new routes
- British Airways (BA) introduced 13 new routes
- SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) added 15 routes
- Iberia (IB) launched 16 new routes
In contrast, low-cost and leisure-focused carriers dominated the top 10:
- Ryanair (FR) and easyJet (U2) led with 208 and 155 routes respectively
- Norwegian (DY), Wizz Air (W6), and Eurowings (EW) each launched over 50 routes
- Leisure specialists like Jet2.com (LS) (49 routes) and Volotea (52 routes) showed significant expansion
- Regional players like Transavia France (TO) (41 routes) and SunExpress (40 routes) also demonstrated substantial growth
Photo: airBalticMarket Competition Analysis
The competitive landscape shows interesting patterns in 2024:
Out of 1,356 new routes, 840 (approximately 62%) operated without direct competition. 154 different airlines participated in the European route expansion.
The top 15 airlines accounted for a significant portion of all new routes. Low-cost carriers dominated in terms of route quantity.
Regional airlines like airBaltic (23 routes) and Sky Express (21 routes) focused on specific market niches. Competition intensity varied by region and route type, with many airlines targeting unique, unserved markets.
Most new routes connected secondary cities or linked primary hubs with smaller destinations. The strategy of targeting routes without direct competition suggests airlines are prioritizing market development over market penetration
This comprehensive expansion of European air routes indicates a strong recovery in the aviation sector and suggests growing confidence in market demand for air travel across the continent.
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