These Are the 4 Cheapest Airlines to Fly to Europe in 2026

663

I’ve spent countless hours hunting for airfare deals to Europe, and nothing feels better than scoring a flight that costs less than a fancy dinner. After years of tracking prices and trying every budget carrier out there, I’ve figured out which airlines consistently deliver those jaw-dropping fares without making you regret your life choices mid-flight.

The best places in Europe become even more magical when you know you got there without demolishing your savings. I especially love using these budget carriers when heading to Lisbon, where the food scene and gorgeous coastal views make it worth every penny saved on airfare. These four budget airlines are absolutely crushing the Europe route in 2026. My bank account and I can personally vouch for each one of them.

1. 🇳🇴 Norse Atlantic Airways

• 🏠 Hub: London Gatwick (LGW)
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: None
• ☕ Perks: Modern 787 Dreamliners, surprisingly spacious seats, genuine premium cabin
• 🧠 Pro Tip: Norse Atlantic’s “Light+” fare costs just 10% more than basic but includes a checked bag and seat selection, making it the best value compared to the stripped-down base fare.

Norse Atlantic Airways is still one of the cheapest ways to cross the Atlantic nonstop, but the airline looks very different in 2026 than it did a year ago. After cutting nearly 40% of its US capacity and dropping routes to Oslo, Paris, Berlin, and Miami, Norse now focuses on just three European gateways for summer 2026. London Gatwick serves as the main hub with flights to New York JFK, Los Angeles, and Orlando, while Rome and Athens each get seasonal New York JFK service. The airline is also leasing half its fleet to IndiGo and has announced a strategic review that could lead to a sale or merger.

The Norse experience begins with the sleek Dreamliners that offer higher cabin pressure and humidity than older aircraft, meaning you’ll arrive feeling less like a dried prune. The Standard Economy seats provide noticeably more legroom than what you’ve come to expect on other budget carriers, while Premium offers substantially more space plus wider seats and enhanced recline.

Norse Atlantic’s pricing model is refreshingly straightforward. Base fares get you a seat and personal item, with clear options to add exactly what matters to you. The smart money’s on the “Light+” bundle, adding a checked bag and seat selection for around 10% more than the bare bones fare.

With no loyalty program or connecting network, Norse focuses entirely on nailing point-to-point routes. Roundtrip tickets to Europe regularly dip below $400 in Economy and $1,200 in Premium during sales. Norse runs regular promotions throughout the year, and I’ve seen transatlantic roundtrips dip below $350 when demand is soft, particularly on the London Gatwick routes during shoulder season.

• Read next: Cheapest Airlines in Europe

2. 🇫🇷 French Bee

• 🏠 Hub: Paris Orly (ORY)
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: None
• ☕ Perks: All-A350 fleet, Paris as your gateway, surprisingly good Premium Economy
• 🧠 Pro Tip: French Bee’s “Bee Smart” fare bundles a checked bag and hot meal for just a small bump over the base price.

French Bee is the airline most people have never heard of that consistently offers some of the cheapest flights from the US to Paris. This French low-cost carrier flies modern Airbus A350s from Newark, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami straight to Paris Orly. Roundtrip fares regularly sit in the $400-600 range without any sales or tricks required. I started recommending French Bee after PLAY Airlines collapsed in September 2025. Honestly, the Paris hub is a better option for most travelers anyway.

The all-A350 fleet is a standout. These are some of the newest widebody aircraft crossing the Atlantic, with better cabin pressure, lower noise levels, and noticeably more comfortable air than older planes. Economy seats have personal entertainment screens, USB charging, and decent legroom for a budget carrier. Premium Economy is where French Bee really punches above its weight, offering wider seats, included meals, priority boarding, and two checked bags at prices that often come in at half what legacy carriers charge for the same cabin class. I’ve seen Premium Economy roundtrips for under $1,200, which is wild for a transatlantic flight.

Everything is à la carte on the base “Bee Light” fare, which gets you a seat and personal item. The “Bee Smart” fare adds a checked bag and hot meal for a small premium, and it’s almost always worth the upgrade over buying extras separately. One thing to keep in mind is that French Bee only flies to Paris Orly, not Charles de Gaulle. Orly is actually a smaller and easier airport to navigate. From there you can connect to anywhere in Europe on budget carriers like easyJet and Transavia, or hop a quick TGV train to cities across France.

3. 🇪🇸 LEVEL

• 🏠 Hub: Barcelona (BCN)
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Premium Economy (select routes)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: Avios (optional) — IAG family
• ☕ Perks: Barcelona hub advantage, newer A330s, connections throughout Europe
• 🧠 Pro Tip: LEVEL’s hidden “Basic+” fare doesn’t show in initial searches but offers a checked bag and meal for just $45 more than basic Economy, much cheaper than adding these options separately.

Want to hit Europe without hitting your bank account quite so hard? LEVEL brings IAG Group’s (parent of British Airways and Iberia) budget approach to transatlantic travel with flights from New York, Boston, and Los Angeles straight to Barcelona, arguably the perfect gateway to European adventures.

Unlike some budget carriers operating ancient aircraft held together with duct tape and prayers, LEVEL flies modern Airbus A330s with actual entertainment screens at every seat. The regular Economy provides standard comfort with 31-inch spacing between seats, while Premium Economy (on select routes) delivers a genuine upgrade with wider seats, extra legroom, and multi-course meals. The whole experience feels more polished than you’d expect at these price points.

The LEVEL approach splits the difference between bare-bones budget and full-service flying. Base fares cover just the seat and a small personal item, with the usual à la carte options for bags, food, and seat selection. The secret hack? Look for their “Basic+” fare that bundles a checked bag and meal for just $45 more than basic economy, a substantial saving compared to adding these separately. Premium cabin prices often rival what competitors charge for regular Economy with fewer perks.

The biggest LEVEL advantage? Barcelona makes for a spectacular entry point to Europe, with excellent onward connections throughout the continent via their sister airlines. Roundtrip fares to Barcelona regularly drop to $399 during sales, with periodic “Yellow Days” promotions occasionally pushing roundtrip deals even lower. Unlike some budget competitors, they fly to primary airports and allow connections with oneworld partners on a single ticket. As a bonus, LEVEL flights optionally earn Avios points usable across the IAG family.

4. 🇵🇹 Azores Airlines

• 🏠 Hub: Ponta Delgada (PDL)
• 💺 Cabin Options: Economy, Executive (Business)
• 🎯 Loyalty Program: SATA Imagine — Independent
• ☕ Perks: Azores stopover option, full-service experience, Portugal connections
• 🧠 Pro Tip: The “Stopover Azores” program lets you break your journey in the islands for up to 7 days at no extra airfare cost, adding a bucket-list destination to your European trip.

Europe for bargain prices with a side of jaw-dropping volcanic islands? Azores Airlines delivers the best of both worlds with flights from Boston, New York, and Toronto to mainland Portugal via their spectacular mid-Atlantic hub. This under-the-radar option lets budget travelers experience European hospitality without European prices.

Unlike stripped-down budget carriers, Azores offers a surprisingly complete experience. They fly refurbished A321neos featuring leather seats with decent legroom, personal entertainment screens, and yes, free meals and drinks for everyone. Meanwhile, the Executive cabin brings wider seats, enhanced dining, and priority everything at prices that would barely get you extra legroom on major carriers. The whole approach feels refreshingly old-school in an era of nickel-and-diming.

Here, the Azores connection creates a unique opportunity. The “Stopover Azores” program lets you spend up to 7 days in these stunning volcanic islands at no additional airfare cost if you just simply select the multi-city booking option on their official website. Imagine hiking past crater lakes and soaking in natural hot springs before continuing to Lisbon or Porto. It’s essentially two vacations for the price of one, with the Azores portion often being the more memorable.

Roundtrip fares from the US to Portugal consistently undercut major carriers, typically running $499-699 to Lisbon or Porto with the Azores hub included as a potential stopover. Azores runs seasonal sales, particularly in late winter and early spring, that can push roundtrip prices down to the $449-499 range. Even the Business Class represents exceptional value, frequently pricing around $1,299 roundtrip, which is less than Premium Economy on many competitors. 

• Read next: Best Islands in Portugal to Visit

Read More:

• Cheapest Destinations to Fly Into Europe
• Europe’s Best Hidden Gems to Visit