Can you believe that you can fly from London to Dublin for £15? That’s literally just over $21. 20 USD. If you were to fly that same distance from Paris, France to Amsterdam, Netherlands? Easily triple the price. Over the last two decades, Dublin has become one of the cheapest European destinations to reach, with flights sometimes advertised for less than a taxi ride across town.
This isn’t just within Europe. From major North American cities like Chicago, New York, or Toronto, it’s almost always cheaper to fly into Dublin than any other city in Europe. The reason isn’t even complicated. Those cheap flights all have to do with Ireland’s geography, airline competition, and some aggressive (and petty) business strategies.
Ryanair Dominates Dublin Airport
Ryanair, Europe’s largest low cost carrier, uses Dublin as its primary hub, flying directly to 118 cities from the airport. The airline was founded in Ireland in 1985 specifically to undercut Aer Lingus and British Airways on the Dublin to London route, and that mentality never changed.
Ryanair operates on razor thin margins by cutting every possible cost. They use no-frills aircraft, charge for everything from checked bags to printing boarding passes, and fly to secondary airports wherever possible to avoid high landing fees. This is why you’ll never see Ryanair at some of the busiest airports in the world – it’s just way too expensive to land there. But Dublin is, and will likely continue to be their home base, so they flood the market with cheap seats to maintain dominance.
Aer Lingus Competes With Saver Fares
Aer Lingus, Ireland’s flag carrier, responded to Ryanair by introducing budget “Saver” fares. These stripped down tickets compete directly with Ryanair by excluding checked baggage and seat selection while keeping slightly better service and comfort. The result is fierce competition that drives prices down across the board.
Dublin also benefits from lower airport charges compared to other European hubs. The airport’s aeronautical fees average €9.33 per passenger, well below the European average of €13.44, making it cheaper for airlines to operate there. This has led to plenty of controversy, epecially amongst locals. However, Ryanair’s competitive prices have also made Dublin a world-class European destination, giving London a run for its money.
