The 5 Most Affordable Transatlantic Carriers in 2025/26

French bee operates from four major US airports—Miami (MIA), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX). The airline flies to Paris Orly, plus Tahiti and Réunion (an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Madagascar that you've definitely never heard of but should probably Google). Roundtrip fares from New York to Paris regularly dip below $500, with promotional pricing sometimes reaching the $300s roundtrip. Premium Economy costs a fraction of what traditional carriers charge, making it the sweet spot for travelers who want more space without paying legacy carrier prices.

About the Fleet: French bee's fleet consists entirely of Airbus A350 aircraft—some of the most fuel-efficient widebodies available. The airline was the first ever to operate an all-A350 fleet.

Who Should Book French bee: Travelers planning Paris-based trips or using France as a European hub. The A350 cabin is notably quieter and more comfortable than older aircraft, the Premium Economy product punches well above its price point, and flying into Orly means you'll spend less time navigating one of Europe's most confounding airport layouts (De Gaulle.)

If Norse Atlantic is still operating when you read this, consider it a minor miracle. This airline has been in a constant state of flux throughout 2025. The Norwegian-based carrier launched in 2021 with ambitious transatlantic plans but has spent the year cutting US routes while pivoting to Asian markets. At the time of publication, Norse had discontinued service to several major US cities and was leasing aircraft to other carriers, which is the airline equivalent of selling your furniture to make rent.

The airline's remaining US-Europe routes operate primarily from New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) with service to London, Gatwick, Oslo, and select European cities. When Norse fares appear, they're genuinely cheap—sometimes under $200 one-way, but the airline's financial struggles mean route stability is questionable at best.

About the Fleet: Norse Atlantic operates Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which produce 25% lower CO2 emissions than previous-generation aircraft and feature larger windows and better cabin air quality.

Who Should Book Norse Atlantic: Travelers with flexible plans who can absorb a potential schedule change. The rock-bottom fares can be worth the risk if you're booking well in advance and monitoring your itinerary, but have a backup plan ready. Think of it as budget airline roulette, so consider insuring the trip.

Icelandair remains the most reliable option in the budget transatlantic space, offering flights from 19 US and Canadian airports through its Reykjavik hub. The airline has significantly expanded its US network in 2025, adding Miami, Nashville, Pittsburgh, and other cities to join established gateways like New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

The real draw here is their stopover program, which lets you spend up to seven days in Iceland at no additional airfare cost. It's essentially two trips for the price of one, and Iceland's tourism infrastructure makes it easy to explore even on a short layover.

About the Fleet: Icelandair operates Boeing 737 MAX aircraft alongside its legacy 757s and 767s, but the big news for 2025 is the introduction of Airbus A321LR aircraft—the airline's first-ever Airbus planes. The A321LR features improved fuel efficiency and a quieter cabin compared to the aging 757s. Icelandair has ordered 13 A321XLR aircraft for delivery starting in 2029, which will complete the Boeing 757 retirement by the end of the decade.

Who Should Book Icelandair: Anyone wanting to add Iceland to their European itinerary, or travelers from smaller US cities who want transatlantic service without connecting through a major hub.

Germany's leisure carrier Condor has weathered a turbulent 2025 after losing guaranteed connecting traffic from Lufthansa due to a German court ruling. (Turns out antitrust regulations work both ways, and sometimes the little guy loses.) The airline initially cut service to Baltimore, Minneapolis, Phoenix, and San Antonio, then reversed course and brought back several routes for summer 2025, albeit with reduced frequency. It's been a rollercoaster, but Condor has somehow landed upright.

Condor now serves nine US cities from Frankfurt: New York (JFK), Boston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Miami, and Anchorage. That's right, Condor operates one of Alaska's only nonstop flights to Europe, a three-times-weekly service that's genuinely unique in the market. Apparently, Germans really love their midnight sun and salmon fishing.

About the Fleet: Condor operates its long-haul flights exclusively on Airbus A330-900neo aircraft as of summer 2025, having completed its fleet renewal in 2024. The airline currently has 18 A330neos with more on order, featuring modern cabins with lie-flat business class seats, enhanced premium economy, and what Airbus claims is the quietest cabin of any aircraft its size. The striped livery is genuinely distinctive—you'll recognize it from a mile away.

Who Should Book Condor: West Coast travelers, anyone headed to Frankfurt or connecting onward in Germany, and Alaskans who want to skip the Lower 48 entirely. The airline has won awards for its cabin design and service, making it a step up from true bare-bones carriers.

JetBlue is the outlier on this list—it's not a budget carrier in the traditional sense, but it falls into the low-cost category and offers competitive transatlantic fares that often beat legacy carriers. More importantly, when you book a JetBlue transatlantic flight, there's a reasonable expectation the airline will actually show up to fly it, which in 2025 is honestly worth something.

From Boston, JetBlue now offers nine European destinations including year-round service to London Heathrow, Paris, and Amsterdam, plus seasonal routes to Dublin, Edinburgh, London Gatwick, Madrid, Barcelona, and Milan. From New York (JFK), the airline serves five European cities including year-round service to London and Paris.

About the Fleet: JetBlue operates its transatlantic routes with Airbus A321LR and A321neo aircraft featuring the airline's Mint business class: lie-flat seats in private suites that rival what you'll find in traditional business class at a fraction of the cost. The A321LR has the most premium configuration with 24 Mint suites and 114 economy seats, while some routes use the higher-capacity A321neo with 16 Mint seats and 144 economy seats.

Who Should Book JetBlue: Travelers who want budget pricing with more predictability and service than ultra-low-cost carriers provide. JetBlue includes amenities like seatback entertainment and complimentary snacks that budget carriers charge extra for, and the Mint cabin offers exceptional value for travelers willing to splurge on premium seating. It's the Goldilocks option—not too bare-bones, not too legacy carrier, just right.

The 2025 transatlantic landscape looks notably different than it did even a year ago. Competition has intensified on some routes while disappearing entirely on others. Norse Atlantic's struggles and PLAY's closure show that simply offering cheap fares isn't enough. Airlines need year-round demand and operational efficiency to survive. Turns out you can't just slap some budget seats in a plane and call it a business model.

For travelers, the message is clear: budget transatlantic service exists and can save you hundreds of dollars, but it requires flexibility, awareness of airline financial health, and willingness to adapt if your carrier suddenly changes plans. The cheapest ticket isn't worth much if the airline isn't around to honor it.