EasyJet vs Ryanair: Comparing Europe’s leading low-cost airline fleets

Both airlines have ambitious plans for expansion through significant orders for new-generation aircraft aimed at improving fuel efficiency and capacity while reducing noise emissions. Ryanair is investing approximately $22 billion in purchasing new Boeing MAX variants while easyJet has firm orders for current-generation Airbus aircraft totaling nearly three hundred.

Despite their differences in fleet composition, both carriers are pivotal players in Europe's aviation market growth as seen by their respective seat capacities reported by OAG: Ryanair leads with twenty million seats followed by easyJet's nine point five million seats as of May 2025.

The trend towards younger fleets reflects a broader industry shift towards modernizing fleets to meet environmental targets and customer expectations for more efficient travel options amidst rising competition from other low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air UK which boasts one of the youngest fleets globally.