In the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, budget airlines—also referred to as low-cost or ultra-low-cost airlines—experienced considerable growth. Across most regions, low-cost airlines have steadily increased their share of total scheduled available seat kilometers since 2009, Senior Partner Vik Krishnan and colleagues note. Europe has the highest share, followed by Latin America and the Middle East. Africa is the only region where the share of low-cost airlines has decreased postpandemic.
Image description:
A bar chart shows the low-cost carriers and ultra-low-cost carriers’ share of total scheduled available seat kilometers, by region. For Africa the percentages are 8% in 2009 and in 2014, 9% in 2019, and 2% in 2024. For Asia–Pacific the percentages are 15% in 2009, 21% in 2014, and 26% in 2019 and in 2024. For Europe the percentages are 31% in 2009, 44% in 2014, 55% in 2019, and 60% in 2024. For Latin America the percentages are 27% in 2009, 30% in 2014, 34% in 2019, and 37% in 2024. For the Middle East the percentages are 12% in 2009, 21% in 2014, 24% in 2019, and 37% in 2024. For North America the percentages are 24% in 2009, 30% in 2014, 34% in 2019, and 36% in 2024.
Note: This image description was completed with the assistance of Writer, a gen AI tool.
Source: Diio Mi.
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To read the article, see “Are low-cost airlines losing altitude?,” May 22, 2025.