Ryanair has beaten easyJet and Jet2 at the ‘Oscars of Aviation’ airline awards – so it must be doing SOMETHING right. But what? Travel experts reveal the secret of the Irish airline’s success

Ryanair, it seems, is the most popular low-cost airline operating in the UK.

There’s a perception that it’s much-maligned, yet it beat perennial UK favourites Jet2.com and easyJet at the recent Skytrax airline awards – the ‘Oscars of Aviation’.

Ryanair finished ninth in the World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines 2024 ranking, with Jet2.com coming 12th and easyJet 10th. In 2023, Ryanair came 13th, with Jet2.com claiming 10th and easyJet 11th.

So, just what is it that Ryanair is doing right?

Rob Burgess, from frequent flyer website headforpoints.com, suggested that punctuality was a significant factor – plus the CEO’s know-how.

He told MailOnline Travel: ‘Ryanair has pipped both easyJet and Jet2 in the low-cost carrier award category, possibly based on “ontime” performance. This might, in part, be to do with easyJet suffering longer delays given more of its flights are out of Gatwick, which is notoriously more prone to delays than Stansted, Ryanair’s main UK hub.

‘However, Ryanair is an increasingly slick operation run by the inimitable Michael O’Leary, who has focused on punctuality, investment in new aircraft and ultimately cheap fares.

‘It delivers what the travelling public want.’

Gilbert Ott, Founder of travel site www.godsavethepoints.com, agreed that ticket price is a plus point for Ryanair – adding that its website and app are also well-liked.

He told MailOnline: ‘Ryanair is deserving of praise. The airline continues to boast among the highest on-time performance across low-cost carriers and has invested heavily in digital technology.

Rob Burgess, from frequent flyer website headforpoints.com, said that Ryanair ‘delivers what the travelling public want’

‘Travellers just want to get where they’re going on time and Ryanair consistently is among the lowest for basic fares and improving digital experiences are removing previous friction points.’

Travellers agree.

‘Seconda731’ wrote on Tripadvisor: ‘I recently flew with Ryanair and I was impressed by the overall experience. The airline offers a no-frills, cost-effective option for travel without compromising on efficiency. The booking process was straightforward, and their commitment to punctuality was evident throughout my journey.

‘The cabin crew was professional and friendly, making the flight enjoyable. Despite the affordable prices, the seating was comfortable enough for the duration of the flight.’

And ‘Tracey C’ commented on Tripadvisor: ‘I know Ryanair have bad reviews, but I honestly couldn’t fault them. From the initial booking to the flight itself. Online chat was friendly and helpful. Staff in both airports were also friendly. Cabin crew were lovely. Flight boarded and left on time on both journeys. Price was also great. Will definitely be using Ryanair again.’

Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, noted, however, that ‘there’s not a huge amount to read into seeing a slight shift up and down in the positions of Ryanair and easyJet’.