Airline tickets continue to rise in price this summer. The main reasons for this are high government fees, taxes and a limited number of flights.
Airline travelers should prepare for rising ticket prices. For example, according to a price analysis by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), tickets have become significantly more expensive, even for some of the so-called low-cost airlines.
One-way tickets without luggage for the four main direct flight providers cost on average between just under EUR 67 (Wizz Air) and EUR 130 (Eurowings), as reported by DLR. A year ago, the range was from 66 to 110 EUR.
Ryanair's prices have risen significantly
Ryanair was one of the cheapest airlines last year. For Irish passengers, the average ticket price has risen from 66 EUR to around 80 EUR in the space of a year. Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings charges an average of 130 EUR instead of 110 EUR for a one-way flight, remaining the most expensive provider. EasyJet, with a slight increase from 84 EUR to 86 EUR, finds itself back in the middle of the rankings.
Wizz Air, which specialises mainly in Eastern Europe, cut its average price from 94 EUR to 67 EUR. According to DLR, Wizz Air offers the lowest prices overall on the German market, followed by Ryanair and easyJet.
The study evaluated a large number of European connections with four different advance booking periods, ranging from one day to three months, as of March 11, 2025. Tickets booked at short notice are generally the most expensive, costing on average between EUR 119 (Wizz Air) and EUR 169 (Eurowings). With a booking period of three months, average prices range from EUR 46 (Ryanair) to EUR 90 (Eurowings).
Book early and compare prices
The reasons for the rising ticket prices are the ongoing flight shortage and high government fees and taxes. A recent analysis by the German Automobile Association (ADAC) showed that taxes and fees are driving up ticket prices, especially in Frankfurt am Main, Munich and Düsseldorf. According to the ADAC, passengers in Frankfurt am Main pay the highest amount in Germany, with state taxes of around EUR 74 for a domestic flight. The average is EUR 52.
Germany also charges high taxes compared to other European countries for international flights. “For a flight from Frankfurt, taxes and fees amount to around EUR 59. Only in Amsterdam are taxes and fees higher, almost EUR 63“, writes the ADAC.
ADAC also has advice for consumers: Those who want to save money on flights should book early, check alternative nearby airports and use price comparisons, experts advise. It's also worth looking abroad, as flights from foreign airports near the border are often cheaper.