Low-Cost Carrier Market Size & Share Analysis - Growth Trends & Forecasts (2025 - 2030)

The Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Report is Segmented by Aircraft Type (Narrowbody and Widebody), Destination (Domestic and International), Haul Length (Short-Haul, Medium-Haul, and Long-Haul), Distribution Channel (Online Direct and Travel Agency), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The Market Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD).

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Size and Share

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Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Analysis by Mordor Intelligence

The low-cost carrier (LCC) market stands at USD 287.95 million in 2025 and is forecasted to reach a market size of USD 603.38 million by 2030, advancing at a 15.95% CAGR. This growth reflects a demand rebound that has pushed global passenger volumes to 105% of 2019 levels, led by leisure and VFR travellers who consistently prioritise price over frills. Fleet renewal centred on A320neo and B737 MAX aircraft is delivering 15–20% reductions in cost per available seat-mile, reinforcing the structural cost advantage that defines the LCC market. Growing acceptance of extended-range A321XLR jets expands addressable networks into thin long-haul city-pairs, while liberalised air-service agreements unlock cross-border expansion opportunities. Digital sales channels capture the entire booking flow, allowing carriers to refine dynamic pricing and ancillary bundles that lift yield without eroding the fare advantage. These factors create a virtuous cycle of rising utilisation, lower unit cost, and robust cash generation.

Key Report Takeaways

  • By aircraft type, narrowbody jets led with 80.85% revenue share in 2024, whereas widebody operations are projected to grow at a 17.89% CAGR through 2030.
  • By destination, domestic services accounted for 60.35% of the LCC market size in 2024; international routes are forecast to expand at a 17.30% CAGR to 2030.
  • By haul length, short-haul flights captured 71.89% of the LCC market share in 2024, while long-haul routes are advancing at an 18.10% CAGR over the same horizon.
  • By distribution channel, direct online sales held a 94.75% share in 2024 and continue growing at 16.01% CAGR.
  • By geography, Asia-Pacific held 32.18% of overall revenues in 2024; the Middle East and Africa is the fastest-growing region at 17.14% CAGR.
  • • IndiGo, Ryanair, and flydubai together controlled more than 20% of global traffic in 2024, with IndiGo alone holding 64.4% domestic share in India

Segment Analysis

By Aircraft Type: Single-Aisle Strength with Wide-Body Upside

Narrowbody fleets account for 80.85% of 2024 revenues, underlining the cost-per-seat supremacy that anchors LCC economics. The segment’s scale continues to rise as carriers lock in forward orders; Ryanair alone has options that could lift its fleet above 800 aircraft by 2033. Despite this dominance, wide-body utilisation is the fastest mover, growing at 17.89% CAGR. Much of that growth is effectively generated by the A321XLR, a single-aisle aircraft serving long-thin missions traditionally counted as wide-body territory. This blurring benefits the LCC market by allowing a wide-body-like range without the associated trip cost.

As residual feedstock of second-hand A330s and B787-8s becomes cheaper, opportunistic long-haul start-ups may also contribute incremental capacity. However, spare-engine shortages could temper inductions until 2026. The LCC market size for wide-body operations is expected to double by 2030, even under conservative delivery scenarios, though profitability will hinge on maintaining 80 %+ load factors during seasonally weak months. Flexible leasing structures and power-by-the-hour engine agreements mitigate some risk, compelling the strategic case for selective wide-body growth.

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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Destination: International Network Momentum Builds

Domestic flying still represents 60.35% of 2024 revenue as point-to-point connectivity inside large landmasses remains the bedrock of the LCC market. Yet international segments are advancing at a 17.30% CAGR, fuelled by the relaxation of visa regimes and reciprocal open-skies deals. IndiGo’s decision to double its international stations to 40 by March 2025 showcases the pivot towards cross-border opportunities. Seasonal peaks on leisure-oriented city pairs are also flattened through continuous scheduling, boosting aircraft utilisation.

As cross-border slots at constrained primary airports grow scarce, secondary airports offer a release valve, often bundled with fee holidays and marketing support. If slot allocation processes remain liberal, the LCC market size attached to international routes could eclipse USD 300 million by 2030. The main execution risk is currency volatility, which can erode yields once denominated in the home currency. Hedging programmes and revenue diversification by ancillary partnerships are expanding to protect margin integrity.

By Haul Length: Long-Haul Economics Turning Positive

Short-haul flights account for 71.89% of current activity, reflecting the historic sweet-spot of 90-minute sectors that optimise crew and aircraft productivity. Long-haul, however, is the star performer with an 18.10% CAGR. The improvement is traced to higher-density cabin layouts and reduced turn-time goals even on trans-Atlantic services. Air Canada plans to use its 30-strong A321XLR fleet on routes such as Halifax–Dublin, avoiding the wide-body cost premium while offering nonstop convenience.

Network data shows that 2,500–4,500 nm thin routes are no longer an automatic monopoly for legacy carriers. The LCC market share on these lanes is still modest but climbing quickly as marketing alliances create virtual long-haul networks. To protect reliability, carriers invest in spare pools at outstations, lessening the risk of AOG events far from base. If fuel prices remain within the USD 75–90 per-barrel band, break-even load factors below 80% are achievable, sustaining the long-haul experiment beyond a niche proposition.

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market_
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Note: Segment shares of all individual segments available upon report purchase

By Distribution Channel: Digital Direct Dominance

At 94.75%, direct online channels capture almost all of ticket sales, which underlines how critical ownership of the customer relationship has become. Dynamic-offer systems price the seat and every ancillary, trained on behavioural data gathered over millions of searches. Wizz Air’s capped “all-you-can-fly” annual pass illustrates the willingness to push new subscription models that build liquidity upfront while locking in future demand.

Global adoption of IATA’s NDC standard empowers airlines to retail richer content, including carbon offset bundles and airport transfer vouchers, in a single transaction. As mobile wallet penetration climbs, payment conversion improves, and fraud rates fall. The LCC market benefits disproportionately because lean IT stacks allow fast iteration compared with legacy airlines bound by legacy PSS architecture. Looking ahead, conversational commerce through chatbots and in-app live agents will further compress sales friction and lift basket size.[1]Wizz Air, “All You Can Fly Pass Announcement,” wizzair.com

Geography Analysis

Asia-Pacific anchors the LCC market with a 32.18% share and reinforces that position through aggressive fleet additions. IndiGo carried 100 million passengers in 2025, reflecting domestic demand buoyed by rising disposable income and a young demographic profile.[2]IndiGo, “100 Million Passengers Milestone,” goindigo.in Every percentage-point uptick in Indian GDP per capita historically triggers an even stronger lift in air-travel propensity, signalling that secular tailwinds are intact. The airport-privatisation wave across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam is upgrading secondary airfields, creating fertile ground for new entrants.

Middle East and Africa, while smaller in absolute terms, is the fastest mover at 17.14% CAGR. Flydubai leverages Dubai’s sixth-freedom hub positioning to bridge underserved city pairs spanning Europe, Africa, and South-East Asia.[3]flydubai, “2025 Network and Financial Performance,” flydubai.com Growth is further encouraged by liberal BASAs and an expanding low-cost terminal footprint in Riyadh and Jeddah. African governments, eager to stimulate tourism and compete with Gulf hubs, are streamlining visa-on-arrival processes, which supports the outward push of carriers such as flynas.

Europe remains an established laboratory for the LCC model, yet faces tightening environmental constraints. The French domestic ban on flights that could be replaced by rail on sub-2.5-hour journeys is an early example of regulatory friction. Even so, load factors remain high because holidaymakers from Germany, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia gravitate to Mediterranean destinations not easily accessible by high-speed rail. Currency-denominated fuel exposure in South America introduces volatility, but the new Argentine administration’s push to deregulate fares could unlock sizeable upside for local players if policy momentum holds.

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market_Growth Rate by Region
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Competitive Landscape

Competitive intensity rises as supply constraints curb capacity growth, allowing incumbents to monetise pricing power while keeping fares below legacy averages. Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air collectively deploy more than 600 aircraft and maintain cash reserves that dwarf most new entrants, giving them a scale moat in slot-constrained airports. At the same time, the LCC industry is experimenting with hybrid upgrades: Southwest is piloting assigned seating, and Spirit plans bundled fare families that inch closer to legacy service levels without surrendering cost discipline.

Digital capability is the next frontier. easyJet has rolled out artificial-intelligence decision support across 2,000 daily flights, cutting delay minutes and lowering preventable maintenance events. Ryanair’s app has 50 million active users, acting as a launch pad for cross-selling hotels, car hire, and event tickets that add high-margin revenue. IndiGo’s scale in Asia-Pacific provides procurement leverage: sizeable block purchases of ACF-flex seats, wheels-and-brakes pools, and even SAF volumes allow it to negotiate rates smaller airlines cannot access.

Consolidation plays are likely to accelerate. Korean Air’s plan to combine Jin Air with Asiana’s Air Busan and Air Seoul units will create a group controlling nearly one-fifth of Korean domestic traffic, reshaping competition on regional routes. Norwegians’ disciplined return after restructuring, plus the potential for Ita Airways to down-gauge certain Mediterranean services, will open fresh code-share and wet-lease opportunities in Europe. Given persistent input-cost volatility and FX swings, balance sheets with low net leverage remain a strategic asset that lets carriers ride out shocks without diluting shareholders.

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Industry Leaders

  1. Southwest Airlines Co.

  2. Ryanair

  3. easyJet PLC

  4. Indigo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited)

  5. Wizz Air Group

  6. *Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Concentration
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Recent Industry Developments

  • May 2025: IndiGo signed an agreement with Norse Atlantic Airways, a Norwegian low-cost carrier, for the damp leasing of two B787 Dreamliner aircraft, expanding its wide-body fleet.
  • May 2024: Travelport, a global travel technology company that processes bookings for travel suppliers worldwide, renewed its LCC content agreement with flynas, a major low-cost airline in the Middle East.

Table of Contents for Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Industry Report

1. INTRODUCTION

  • 1.1 Study Assumptions and Market Definition
  • 1.2 Scope of the Study

2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4. MARKET LANDSCAPE

  • 4.1 Market Overview
  • 4.2 Market Drivers
    • 4.2.1 Surge in price-sensitive leisure and VFR traffic
    • 4.2.2 Global fleet modernization driven by next-generation narrowbody aircraft
    • 4.2.3 Liberalisation of bilateral air-service agreements
    • 4.2.4 Ancillary-revenue digitalisation boosting yield
    • 4.2.5 Lower carbon intensity per seat of high-density single-aisle fleets aligning with ICAO CORSIA targets
    • 4.2.6 Global availability of under-utilized secondary and tertiary airports offering major fee discounts
  • 4.3 Market Restraints
    • 4.3.1 Persistent airframe, engine and avionics supply-chain bottlenecks
    • 4.3.2 Escalating environmental taxes and carbon-pricing schemes on short-haul flights
    • 4.3.3 Jet-fuel crack-spread volatility and limited fuel-hedging capability outside Europe
    • 4.3.4 Worldwide pilot, engineer and cabin-crew shortages inflating labour costs
  • 4.4 Value Chain Analysis
  • 4.5 Regulatory Outlook
  • 4.6 Technological Outlook
  • 4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
    • 4.7.1 Threat of New Entrants
    • 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers
    • 4.7.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
    • 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes
    • 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry

5. MARKET SIZE AND GROWTH FORECASTS (VALUE)

  • 5.1 By Aircraft Type
    • 5.1.1 Narrowbody
    • 5.1.2 Widebody
  • 5.2 By Destination
    • 5.2.1 Domestic
    • 5.2.2 International
  • 5.3 By Haul Length
    • 5.3.1 Short-Haul
    • 5.3.2 Medium-Haul
    • 5.3.3 Long-Haul
  • 5.4 By Distribution Channel
    • 5.4.1 Online Direct
    • 5.4.2 Travel Agency
  • 5.5 Geography
    • 5.5.1 North America
    • 5.5.1.1 United States
    • 5.5.1.2 Canada
    • 5.5.2 Europe
    • 5.5.2.1 Germany
    • 5.5.2.2 United Kingdom
    • 5.5.2.3 France
    • 5.5.2.4 Italy
    • 5.5.2.5 Spain
    • 5.5.2.6 Rest of Europe
    • 5.5.3 Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.3.1 China
    • 5.5.3.2 India
    • 5.5.3.3 Japan
    • 5.5.3.4 South Korea
    • 5.5.3.5 Rest of Asia-Pacific
    • 5.5.4 South America
    • 5.5.4.1 Brazil
    • 5.5.4.2 Rest of South America
    • 5.5.5 Middle East and Africa
    • 5.5.5.1 Middle East
    • 5.5.5.1.1 Saudi Arabia
    • 5.5.5.1.2 United Arab Emirates
    • 5.5.5.1.3 Rest of Middle East
    • 5.5.5.2 Africa
    • 5.5.5.2.1 South Africa
    • 5.5.5.2.2 Rest of Africa

6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

  • 6.1 Market Concentration
  • 6.2 Strategic Moves
  • 6.3 Market Share Analysis
  • 6.4 Company Profiles (includes Global level Overview, Market level overview, Core Segments, Financials as available, Strategic Information, Market Rank/Share for key companies, Products and Services, and Recent Developments)
    • 6.4.1 Southwest Airlines Co.
    • 6.4.2 Ryanair
    • 6.4.3 AirAsia Group Berhad
    • 6.4.4 Indigo (InterGlobe Aviation Limited)
    • 6.4.5 easyJet PLC
    • 6.4.6 JetBlue Airways Corporation
    • 6.4.7 Spirit Airlines
    • 6.4.8 Norse Atlantic ASA
    • 6.4.9 Wizz Air Group
    • 6.4.10 Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd.
    • 6.4.11 GOL Linhas Aéreas
    • 6.4.12 Concesionaria Vuela Compañía de Aviación, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Volaris)
    • 6.4.13 Frontier Group Holdings Inc.
    • 6.4.14 Pegasus Hava Taşımacılığı A.Ş. (Pegasus)
    • 6.4.15 VietJet Aviation
    • 6.4.16 Cebu Pacific
    • 6.4.17 Dubai Aviation Corporation
    • 6.4.18 flynas Company LCC
    • 6.4.19 Jazeera Airways K.S.C
    • 6.4.20 WestJet Airlines Ltd. (Sunwing Vacations Inc.)

7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE OUTLOOK

  • 7.1 White-space and Unmet-Need Assessment
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Global Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Report Scope

In contrast to traditional airlines, low-cost carriers prioritize lower fares over added comforts. By forgoing some standard services, they maintain a leaner operational cost structure. While ticket prices are notably reduced, these carriers offset the difference by charging for additional services like food, priority boarding, and baggage.

The low-cost carrier (LCC) market is segmented by aircraft type, destination, distribution channel, and geography. By aircraft type, the market is segmented into narrowbody and widebody aircraft. By destination, it is divided into domestic and international. By distribution channel, it is classified into online and travel agencies. The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts for the LCC market in major countries across different regions. For each segment, the market size is provided in terms of value (USD).

By Aircraft Type Narrowbody
Widebody
By Destination Domestic
International
By Haul Length Short-Haul
Medium-Haul
Long-Haul
By Distribution Channel Online Direct
Travel Agency
Geography North America United States
Canada
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
By Aircraft Type
Narrowbody
Widebody
By Destination
Domestic
International
By Haul Length
Short-Haul
Medium-Haul
Long-Haul
By Distribution Channel
Online Direct
Travel Agency
Geography
North America United States
Canada
Europe Germany
United Kingdom
France
Italy
Spain
Rest of Europe
Asia-Pacific China
India
Japan
South Korea
Rest of Asia-Pacific
South America Brazil
Rest of South America
Middle East and Africa Middle East Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Rest of Middle East
Africa South Africa
Rest of Africa
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Key Questions Answered in the Report

How large is the LCC market in 2025?

The LCC market is valued at USD 287.95 million in 2025 and is projected to expand to USD 603.38 million by 2030 at a 15.95% CAGR.

Which region leads the LCC market today?

Asia-Pacific holds the largest revenue share at 32.18%, supported by passenger-growth milestones such as IndiGo carrying 100 million customers in a year.

What drives long-haul growth for low-cost carriers?

Extended-range single-aisle aircraft like the A321XLR enable profitable operation on thin trans-continental routes, delivering range without wide-body trip-cost penalties.

How important is ancillary revenue to LCC profitability?

Ancillary sales contributed EUR 4.72 billion (USD 5.42 billion) for Ryanair in 2024-25, demonstrating that personalised add-ons can represent more than one-third of total revenue for leading carriers.

What are the biggest restraints facing the sector?

Supply-chain delays on new aircraft and tightening environmental levies on short-haul flights currently subtract an estimated 4.2 percentage points from otherwise higher growth momentum.

Which sales channel dominates LCC bookings?

Direct online platforms capture 94.75% of tickets, allowing carriers to exploit dynamic pricing and personalized bundles while reducing distribution costs.

Page last updated on: July 3, 2025

Low-Cost Carrier (LCC) Market Report Snapshots