If you are planning to fly either from Northern Europe or to Northern Europe and you are contemplating on the best airlines in Northern Europe currently, based on this year’s ranking, Finnair airline has been ranked as the best airline you can fly with right now in Northern Europe.
You may need to know the other best budget to fly in Northern Europe, we have taken out time to give you information on this as well in this content, read on as we give you the best airline to fly in Northern Europe.
11 Best Airlines in Northern Europe Right Now [2023 Ranking]
1. Finnair Airline
First on the list is Finnair Airline. Finnair, founded in 1923, is not only the largest airline in Finland but also one of the oldest in the world. It is the shortest link between Asia and Europe, with 15 major Asian destinations and over 60 European ones.
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Also, on long-haul flights, travelers may enjoy the latest in in-flight entertainment thanks to the airline’s young fleet. Because of its membership in the Oneworld Alliance, Finnair is able to provide its customers with the same perks and services as its 14 other Oneworld Alliance partner airlines, some of which are American Airlines and British Airways.
2. SAS Scandinavian Airline
Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) is Scandinavia’s largest airline, serving over 90 destinations in Europe, Asia, and North America. The airline provides economy and premium service on domestic routes throughout Europe and business class on international and transatlantic journeys.
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In addition, passengers on SAS flights that leave before 9 a.m. will be treated to a continental breakfast. As one of the original 27 airlines that make up the Star Alliance, SAS partners with its alliance partners to offer service to virtually any location on Earth.
3. Norwegian Airline
Norwegian Air Shuttle, usually known as simply “Norwegian,” is the third largest low-cost carrier in Europe, serving 126 locations across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and North America.
In May 2013, it began long-distance flights, and since then, the London–New York route has been quite popular because of its low fares (as low as $235). Norwegian’s in-flight connectivity has earned multiple honors, and the airline offers free Wi-Fi on nearly all flights. In 2014, it was also voted the best low-cost European airline by the World Airline Awards.
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4. Icelandair Airline
Icelandair, the country’s primary airline, began offering regular flights to 39 destinations in 16 countries, including the United States, Canada, and numerous European countries, starting in the summer of 2015. Customers appreciate the nonstop transatlantic service, and in 2015, Icelandair anticipates carrying around 2.9 million passengers.
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The airline, in keeping with Iceland’s green reputation, has instituted stringent environmental policies, including the planting of trees by passengers and employing one of the “greenest” ground workers in the industry. The newest plane in the airline’s fleet, called the Hekla Aurora, features dazzling multicolored LED lights in tribute to the country’s Northern Lights.
5. Fly Play Airline
Fly Play hf., stylized as PLAY, is an Icelandic budget airline with headquarters in the country’s capital, Reykjavk. Its main terminal is located at Keflavik International Airport and its fleet consists primarily of aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family.
In July of 2019, Arnar Már Magnsson and Sveinn Ingi Steinórsson, two ex-executives of WOW air, announced the development of a new airline, provisionally dubbed WAB air (“We Are Back”). Neo, created by Magnsson and Steinórsson, owned the remaining 25%, while Avianta Capital, an Irish investment fund headed by Aislinn Whittley-Ryan (daughter of Michael Kell Ryan, one of the founders of Ryanair), owned 75%.
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The company’s initial one-year goal was to carry one million passengers across six planes to fourteen destinations in Europe and the United States. The new company has submitted an application for an air operator’s certificate (AOC) to the Icelandic Transport Authority.
WAB air began recruiting new flight attendants and dispatchers in November 2019 under its new name, PLAY. The company said it would lease two Airbus A321s with 200 seats each and begin service to six European cities during the 2019–2020 winter season. Red was also going to be used for the airline’s livery.
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Play aimed to launch service to six European cities by late 2019; these cities would be Alicante, Tenerife, London, Paris, Copenhagen, and Berlin. In the spring of 2020, it was expected that service would begin to four cities in North America.
There were plans for Play to launch with a pair of Airbus A321s, each with 200 seats, and then expand to a total of six planes by the summer of 2020. London Stansted Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Dublin Airport were the only three airports where the company has a landing permit as of November 2020.
Play announced the closing of a pre-IPO private placement deal in April 2021, raising a total of 6 billion Icelandic króna ($47 million) in fresh equity under the direction of Arctica Finance. Stodir, an Icelandic investment corporation, and two Icelandic pension funds were among the participants.
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The replacement of Arnar Már Magnsson with Birgir Jónsson as CEO was also announced. The airline stated in May 2021 that it had received its AOC and had purchased its first plane, an Airbus A321neo. Almost immediately following this announcement, the airline began selling tickets for its debut flight, which took place on 24 June 2021 from Keflavk International Airport to London Stansted Airport.
Play made its first flight on the same day it went public, launching an initial public offering (IPO) to raise between 3.9 and 4.3 billion Icelandic króna (US $32 and 35 million). With an eight-fold oversubscription, the IPO closed on June 25, 2021, with total subscriptions received of 33.8 billion Icelandic króna (about $274 million).
To begin service between Keflavk and the US east coast by the summer of 2022, Play submitted an application to the US Department of Transportation in August 2021.
In the end, the airline’s proposal was accepted, and on December 16 of the following year, it announced that it will begin serving the United States by providing flights to Baltimore and Boston beginning in April and May 2022.
6. Norse Atlantic Airways
At its headquarters in Arendal, Norway, Norse Atlantic Airways AS (OSE: NORSE) is a low-cost, long-haul airline serving Norway and the rest of the Nordic region. The airline was established in February 2021 and flies Boeing 787 Dreamliner planes between Europe and North America.
Bjrn Tore Larsen launched Norse Atlantic Airways in February 2021, and Bjrn Kise and Bjrn Kjos each invested in the company as minor partners. The airline and its plans to begin selling tickets in the fall of 2021 for the launch of regular commercial flights in December 2021 were announced on 15 March 2021.2
Plans for the airline included listing on the Oslo Stock Exchange, forming alliances with existing Norwegian airlines like Norwegian Air Shuttle and startup airline Flyr, and operating a fleet of twelve Boeing 787 Dreamliners previously flown by Norwegian Air Shuttle and its subsidiaries.
The airline had previously stated that it was interested in expanding into the Asian market in the future and had announced that its initial destination cities will include London, Oslo, and Paris in Europe as well as Los Angeles, Miami, and New York City in the United States.
On March 26, 2021, the company’s stockholders closed a private placement of 1.275 billion Norwegian kroner, or about $150 million in U.S. dollars, to fund the company’s start. Norse Atlantic’s first nine Boeing 787s (three 787-8s and six 787-9s) will be leased from AerCap beginning 29 March 2021. Norse Atlantic went public on the Oslo stock exchange for the first time on April 12, 2021, and raised about 1.4 billion Norwegian crowns ($165 million US) (IPO).
The first flight took off on June 14, 2022, from Oslo Airport, Gardermoen to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. On July 28, 2022, Norse Atlantic began working with other airlines through partnerships with easyJet, Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Spirit Airlines to facilitate connecting traffic via Dohop.
7. Flyr Airline
Low-cost Norwegian airline Flyr was founded in 2012. The airline’s headquarters are in Oslo, and it operates out of Oslo Airport, Gardermoen, providing service both inside Norway and to popular tourist locations in Europe.
Flyr was established in 2020 by Erik G. Braathen, who had previously served as CEO of the defunct Norwegian flag carrier Braathens.
The Norwegian CAA granted Flyr an Air Operator Certificate in June of 2021. This was the first time a Boeing 737-800 flew from Oslo to Troms.
8. BRA Airline
Founded in 2016, Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) has grown rapidly to become one of Sweden’s largest local airlines. The company is headquartered in the Bromma neighborhood of Stockholm, BRA. In 2016, Malmö Aviation, Sverigeflyg, and Braathens Regional came together to become Braathens Regional Airlines, with the intention of offering a unified brand to the Swedish domestic market. Neither an AOC nor its own aircraft is available to BRA. It relies on its sibling firms, Braathens Regional Airways, and Braathens Regional Aviation, for their capacity instead.
The Swedish Government and the Public Health Agency advised people not to travel around the country, therefore BRA canceled all flights between April 6 and May 31, 2020. On April 6, 2020, BRA halted operations and petitioned the court to restructure its debt.
9. Air Greenland Airline
The Greenlandic Government owns Air Greenland A/S (previously known as Grnlandsfly), which also goes by the moniker Greenlandair.
It flies a fleet of 32 planes and helicopters, with 1 airliner utilized for long-distance and charter flights, 8 fixed-wing planes mainly serving the domestic network, and 18 rotorcraft connecting passengers from outlying areas to major airport hubs. Greenland’s government contracts with a private company to provide flights to heliports serving outlying villages.
In addition to providing scheduled services and government-contracted flights to most villages, the airline also provides support for remote research stations, charter services for tourists and the energy and mineral-resource industries in Greenland, and allows for medivac in the event of an emergency. There are seven different branches under Air Greenland, including the airline, hotels, tour operators, and a Greenland-focused travel agency.
10. Atlantic Airways
From its hub at Vágar Airport on the island of Vágar in the Faroe Islands, Atlantic Airways operates domestic helicopter flights, international passenger services, and search and rescue operations. The majority of its pilots are active in the Faroese Pilot Association.
11. Air Baltic Airline
As a low-cost airline, Air Baltic offers some of the cheapest flight prices in the Baltic region, with fares as low as $67. Flights between Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm, as well as about 60 other European destinations, are routinely discounted by the airline.
It made history in July by being the first airline to accept Bitcoin for online bookings, streamlining the process for its tech-savvy clientele. Customers can earn points toward free flights and other perks through the PINS loyalty program as well as other travel-related purchases, such as airport retail, hotel stays, and car rentals.
What Is The Nicest Airline In Europe?
The nicest airline to fly in Europe is Turkish Airlines which doubles to be the best airline to fly with in Europe.
What Is The Best French Airline?
The best French airline to fly with is Air France. In a rating that covers more than 300 airlines and is based on the opinions of more than 14 million passengers from over 100 countries, Air France is the only European airline to crack the Top 10.
What Is The Safest Airline In Europe?
According to the 2022 JACDEC ranking, KLM is the safest airline in Europe and the second-safest airline worldwide.
Has Icelandair Ever Had A Crash?
Yes! The charter flight 001 of Loftleiir Icelandic Airlines was a Douglas DC-8 that went down on approach to the international airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on November 15th, 1978.
Has Ryanair Ever had A Crash?
Yes! A Ryanair airplane en route to Edinburgh had to abort takeoff after colliding with a ground vehicle. On Friday morning, a plane crashed into a car, and the passengers had to wait seven hours for a replacement plane.
Conclusion
Check out these airlines, which were just ranked as the finest in Northern Europe by the World Airline Awards, if you’re planning on booking a flight in the near future.
The winners were determined by how satisfied passengers were with their airline in 2021, as surveyed by Skytrax. The latest survey, conducted online between August 2021 and May 2022, has almost 18.85 million total respondents.
Awards are bestowed on airlines based on consumer feedback gathered from a survey that evaluates their performance across 41 key performance indicators related to their in-flight product and customer service. If you’re looking for the best deals, the most travel options, and the most hospitable service when flying through Northern Europe, these five airlines are your best bet.
