Wizz Air has been ranked the least expensive airline in Europe, while British Airways was identified as the costliest major national carrier, according to research comparing passenger revenue generated across 23 European airlines.

The analysis by flight and baggage compensation company AirAdvisor used revenue per available seat kilometre, or RASK, to compare how much airlines earn from passengers for each kilometre flown per available seat.

RASK provides an indication of how much travellers pay relative to distance and available capacity. The measure also reflects additional passenger charges, including fees for baggage and seat selection, rather than relying only on advertised ticket prices.

AirAdvisor said smaller airlines often have higher costs because they operate fewer routes, smaller fleets and services to remote or lower-demand destinations. With fewer seats available and less competition on some routes, fares can be higher.

However, the company said the pattern does not apply universally and travellers should compare prices for individual routes before booking.

The research also found that airline costs generally fell between 2024 and 2025. Among the 14 carriers for which AirAdvisor had year-on-year RASK figures, only five recorded increases, while nine saw their RASK decline.

Norway’s Widerøe topped the overall cost ranking with a RASK of €0.32. The regional airline operates many routes connecting smaller Norwegian airports with larger centres and also serves destinations including Aberdeen, Hamburg and London Southend.

Among major airlines, British Airways ranked as Europe’s most expensive national carrier, with a 2025 RASK of €0.0888. Its figure increased by €0.0038 from the previous year.

Air France and Austrian Airlines shared the next position among the most expensive major carriers, both recording a RASK of €0.0850.

At the other end of the ranking, Hungary-based Wizz Air had the lowest RASK at €0.0433, making it the least expensive airline in AirAdvisor’s comparison.

The company estimated that choosing Wizz Air instead of Air France could save travellers up to €50 on an average European flight distance, although actual savings depend on the route and additional fees.

easyJet ranked second among the least expensive airlines, with its RASK falling from €0.0770 in 2024 to €0.0521 in 2025.

Ryanair took third place, with RASK declining from €0.0843 to €0.0556 over the same period.

Among the 11 major national airlines included in the study, Finnair was ranked the least expensive.

The findings suggest that airline pricing can vary significantly even among national carriers, while the cost differences between airlines become more noticeable when viewed across typical travel distances.

AirAdvisor advised passengers to use such comparisons as a guide rather than a guarantee of the final fare, as route-specific pricing, luggage charges, seat fees and other extras can significantly affect the total cost of a journey.

Spain has introduced temporary border checks on travellers arriving from Italy, escalating a dispute between Madrid and Rome over controls imposed during the recent Ceuta migrant crisis.

The measures came into effect from Saturday, August 8, after Italy refused to comply with a Spanish demand to remove its own border checks on travellers arriving from Spain. Madrid said its controls would remain in place until September 7, while Rome confirmed on Friday that its suspension of normal Schengen arrangements would continue at least until August 15.

The dispute comes during the peak summer travel season, when thousands of people are expected to travel between the two countries. Spanish officials have criticised the Italian measures, saying Spanish citizens have already faced additional checks when entering Italy.

Under Spain’s new arrangements, travellers arriving from Italy by air, sea or land may be required to present identification documents. EU citizens must show a valid identity document, while travellers from outside the bloc may also need to provide a visa or residence permit.

Italian nationals can use either a passport or a national identity card valid for international travel. However, Spain’s requirements come shortly after Italy stopped recognising paper identity cards as travel documents from August 3. Travellers using Italian identity cards must therefore have the electronic CIE version.

The additional checks could cause delays at major airports, ports and land crossings, particularly during one of the busiest periods of the European holiday season.

At airports, Spanish authorities may conduct checks at arrival gates or during boarding. Travellers arriving by ferry or other maritime services could be checked either before departure or after reaching Spain.

People travelling by road from Italy will generally pass through France before reaching Spain. They may therefore be stopped at the French-Spanish border and asked to present their identification documents.

Families travelling with children have also been advised to ensure that every minor carries the necessary travel documents. Italian regulations provide identity documents with different validity periods depending on a child’s age. Documents are valid for three years for children under three and five years for those aged between three and 18.

Children under 14 are not permitted to travel alone, adding another consideration for families planning journeys between the two countries.

Travellers bringing pets into Spain must also meet EU requirements. Animals need an EU pet passport issued by a veterinarian, along with a microchip and valid vaccination against rabies.

The dispute has created additional uncertainty for travellers who arranged their summer journeys before the measures were announced. Madrid and Rome now face pressure to resolve the disagreement while avoiding further disruption to movement between two EU member states normally connected by the Schengen free-travel area.