Low cost airlines or carriers refer to airlines that have a moderately lower operating cost structure than other competitors. This term should not be confused with airlines offering discount rates or those operating short term flights without service. Budgeted airlines have fewer in flight services and comforts. Such flights may charge extra for carry-
Africa
Air Arabia Egypt (Egypt): The airline is a joint venture between the Egyptian travel and Tourism Company, Travco Group, and Air Arabia. It was established in 22 May 2010
Fly540 (Kenya): This low cost airline is largely based in Nairobi. It operates domestic and international passenger and freight services.
Aero Contractors (Nigeria): This low cost airline is based at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. It operates both international and domestic flights.
Jet4you (Morocco): Jet4you is a low cost airline rooted in Casablanca. It operates between Moroccan cities and some international flights.
1Time (South Africa): 1Time is a low-
FlyMango (South Africa): Mango is a low-
South African Express (South Africa): This airline is operationally independent of South African Airways but its flights are integrated within the strategic alliance with Airlink and South African Airways. South African Express started operations on 24 April 1994.
Nouvelair (Tunisia): This is a Tunisian low cost airline with its registered office in Tunis,[1] whileits head office in the Dhkila Tourist Zone in Monastir.
Australia / New Zealand
Jetstar Airways: This low cost airline is head quartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas Airways.
Tiger Airways Australia was introduced to the airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, It is based in Melbourne.
North America
Air Tran Airways: Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, it is a subsidiary of Southwest airlines.
Air Transat: Air Transat is an airline based in Saint Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Air Transat made its inaugural flight on November 14, 1987. It serves 60 destinations.
Frontier Airlines: Based in Denver, Colorado Frontier Airlines is a tributary of Republic Airways.
Island Air: It is an independent American airline based in Honolulu, Hawaii. It was incorporated in 1980.
Jet Blue: It is headquartered in Long Island City. It came into being on February 1999.
Midwest Airlines: This U.S.-
Southwest Airlines: Headquartered in Dallas, Texas it was established in 1967. It is the largest airline in US based on domestic passengers.
Spirit Airways: Spirit Airlines is a highly budgeted airline. It was founded in 1980 as Charter One and is headquartered in Miramar, Florida.
Sun Country Airlines: Also known as MN Airlines, Sun Country Airlines is an American low-
Sunwing Airlines: Sunwing Airlines Inc. is an airline headquartered in Etobicoke, Toronto,Ontario, Canada. It started service in November 2005.
USA 3000 airlines: It is a U.S. airline, headquartered in New Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Westjet: Westjet is a low cost carrier is based in Canada. The first Westjet flight departed on 29th February 1996.
Virgin America: It was founded in 2004 and it operates both domestic and international flights.
Asia
Spring Airlines (China): Spring Airlines is a Shanghai-
Air India Express (India): Air India Express is a low cost ancillary of Air India. It is based in Kerala and the airline belongs to Air India Charters Limited
GoAir (India): This no-
IndiGo (India): Indigo was named the best no-
JetKonnect (India): This budgeted airline is based in Mumbai. It was previously known as Jet Lite before it was merged with Jet Konnect.
SpiceJet (India): This low cost airline is head quartered in Chennai. It began service in May 2005. It is regarded as India’s third largest airline in terms of Market share.
Citilink (Indonesia): Citilink is based in Jakarta. It was established in 2001 as a no frills subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia.
Lion Air (Indonesia): Headquartered in Jakarta, it is Indonesia’s largest privately run airline.
Indonesia AirAsia (Indonesia): Based in Jakarta, it is a correlated carrier of Air Asia. It operates both domestic and international flights.
Batavia Air (Indonesia): It is headquartered in Surabaya and was established in 2001.
AirAsia Japan (Japan): This budgeted airline is head quartered in Tokyo. It is a joint venture between Malaysia’s Air Asia and Japan’s ANA.
Hokkaido International Airlines (Air Do) (Japan): Also known as Air Do, this low cost airline was found in 1996.
JAL Express (Japan): JAL has its head quarters in Tokyo International airport and is an ancillary of Japan Airlines. Its first air craft took off on 1 April 1997
Peach (Japan): Also known as Peach Aviation, this no frills airline was formed in February 2011. It was a joint venture between ANA and the First Eastern Investment Group.
Skymark Airlines (Japan): Headquartered in Tokyo, Skymark is a dominant carrier at Kobe Airport. It was established in 1996.
Skynet Asia Airways (Japan): Also known as Solaseed Air, this is the first airline in Japan that offers discounted fares for tourists only.
StarFlyer (Japan): This low cost, high quality airline was modeled after JetBlue. It began on 16th March 2007
Jetstar Japan (Japan): It was initially owned by Qantas, Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi Corporation. It is a known budgeted airline in Japan.
Air Busan (Korea): This regional low cost airline is based in Busan. It came in operation in 2007.
Eastar Jet (Korea): Easter jet operates flights to regional destinations. It is headquartered in Seoul. Easter jet was founded in 26th October 2007.
Jeju Air (Korea): Jeju Air is based in Jeju city in South Korea offering discounted rates on domestic services between Jeju and South Korean mainland. It was established in January 2005.
Jin Air (Korea): It is a full fledge budgeted subsidiary of Korean Air. It started services in July 2008.
T’way Airlines: This airline is a Korean no frills airline.
AirAsia Philippines: This budgeted airline is based in Philippines
Airphil Express: This budgeted airline is based in Philippines
Cebu Pacific (Philippines): Cebu reached the marketing ceiling by their introductory rate of just 1 USD.
South East Asian Airlines: This budgeted airline is based in Philippines
Spirit of Manila Airlines: This budgeted airline is based in Philippines
Zest Airways: This budgeted airline is based in Philippines
Mihin Lanka: It provides low cost services in Sri Lanka
Jetstar Asia Airways: This no frills airline is headquartered in Singapore.
Tiger Airways: This no frills airline is headquartered in Singapore.
Scoot: This no frills airline is headquartered in Singapore.
Nok Air: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Thai Smile: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Thai AirAsia: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Orient Thai Airlines: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Nok Mini: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Solar Air: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Happy Air: This no frills airline is headquartered in Thailand.
Jetstar Pacific: It is a tributary of Jetstar airways that functions in Vietnam.
VietJet Air: Vietjet is a popular low cost airline in Vietnam.
Air Mekong: This airline is present in Vietnam as an economical airline.
Air Blue: Air Blue is a low cost airline present in Pakistan.
Shaheen Air: This highly budgeted airline functions in Pakistan.
MASwings: This is a Malaysian no frills airline.
Air Asia (Malaysia): Air Asia is a Malaysian airline which started service priced as low as 1 MYR. Since then it has evolved into the zenith of budgeted airlines in Asia.
Firefly: Firefly is a Malaysian no frills airline.