Simon Calder says Ryanair is the 'best' airline 'in the world'

Simon Calder says Ryanair is the 'best' airline 'in the world' highlights the travel expert’s claim that Ryanair tops the global airline ranking. Speaking on Simon Calder’s The Travel Expert podcast on the Daily Telegraph, Calder said the low-cost carrier ranks first, citing safety, costs and staff as decisive factors. He addressed potential skepticism, noting Ryanair’s no-frills approach, the prevalence of add-ons during booking, and strict baggage rule enforcement, while also pointing to its record and scale. Calder said Ryanair has flown 2.2 billion people without fatal accidents and described his experience as largely on time with friendly staff. In 2025, Ryanair operated more routes than any other airline, serving 5,400 airports, with Italy the top destination at 46 million seats and Spain close behind. The airline reported operating profit of €2,374.2m, a short-haul fleet of 647 aircraft, and 208 million booked passengers.