Ryanair has been named the worst short-haul airline in the UK for the sixth consecutive year, according to a survey by Which. The Irish budget carrier ranked bottom among 19 airlines flying from the UK, with passengers criticising its boarding processes, seat comfort, food and drink, and cabin environment.
The survey, which polled thousands of passengers, found that 70% of those who named an airline they would never fly again chose Ryanair. The airline faced strike action in 2018, cancelled flights without offering compensation, and introduced new baggage rules three times.
Top performers included Guernsey-based Aurigny Air Service, Swiss Airlines, Jet2, Norwegian, and KLM. Easyjet and British Airways ranked 11th and 15th respectively, with both scoring low on seat comfort. Easyjet outperformed BA on food, drink, customer service, and value for money.
Despite the poor ratings, independent aviation consultant Chris Tarry noted that Ryanair still represents great value for many customers. 'What they receive is what they expect,' he said, adding that the airline generates 'huge amounts of cash' despite a tough year.
A Ryanair spokesperson dismissed the survey as unrepresentative, highlighting that passenger numbers have grown by 80% in six years and that Ryanair.com is the world's most visited airline website. The airline expects to carry 141 million passengers this year.
