Flight delays in Italy and across Europe are becoming one of the biggest travel headaches of 2026. Whether you are flying for a holiday, a family visit, a business trip or a relocation plan, a late or cancelled flight can quickly turn into missed connections, extra costs and hours of stress at the airport.
The latest Flightright Index 2026 gives travellers a useful warning sign. The ranking looks at 20 major European airlines and compares them across three areas: reliability, payment behaviour and customer opinion. In other words, it does not only ask whether flights are delayed or cancelled. It also asks how airlines behave when passengers are owed compensation.
For people living in Italy, moving to Italy or travelling frequently between Italy and the rest of Europe, this matters. Many of the airlines with weak scores operate popular routes from Italian airports, especially low-cost and short-haul connections. The real question is no longer just “how cheap is the ticket?”, but also “what happens if something goes wrong?”
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What the Flightright Index 2026 Measures
The Flightright Index 2026 compared 20 of the largest and best-known European airlines over a six-month period, from 15 November 2025 to 14 May 2026. Each airline received a score from 1 to 5 stars in three categories: reliability, payment behaviour and customer opinion.
Reliability is based on flight delays and cancellations. Payment behaviour measures how quickly and reliably airlines pay compensation when passengers are entitled to it. Customer opinion reflects how passengers rate the airline’s service, communication and handling of problems.
This makes the ranking more useful than a simple list of delayed flights. A company may not be the worst for punctuality, but it can still perform badly if passengers struggle to receive compensation or support after a disruption.
The Worst Airlines in Europe in 2026
According to the Flightright Index 2026, the weakest overall score went to Aer Lingus, followed by Air Europa and Vueling. All three performed especially badly for payment behaviour, receiving only 1 star in that category.
- Aer Lingus — overall score: 1.79 out of 5
- Air Europa — overall score: 1.93 out of 5
- Vueling — overall score: 2.06 out of 5
- KLM — overall score: 2.13 out of 5
- Ryanair — overall score: 2.19 out of 5
- Wizz Air — overall score: 2.23 out of 5
- easyJet — overall score: 2.27 out of 5
Several names in this list are very familiar to travellers in Italy. Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Vueling are widely used for European city breaks, weekend trips, family visits and low-cost flights from airports such as Milan Bergamo, Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Bologna, Venice and Catania.
This does not mean every flight with these airlines will be delayed or cancelled. But it does mean travellers should look beyond the headline price. A cheap flight can become expensive if it creates missed connections, extra nights in hotels or a long compensation battle.
The Best Airlines in the Ranking
At the other end of the table, Austrian Airlines received the best overall score in the Flightright Index 2026, with 3.04 out of 5. Eurowings ranked second with 2.81, while Air Baltic came third with 2.76.
Austrian Airlines and Air Baltic performed particularly well for reliability, each receiving 3.5 stars in that category. However, even the best airline in the ranking scored only slightly above 3 out of 5 overall.
That is one of the most important details of the report. The problem is not limited to a few badly managed airlines. The whole European airline market still appears to have major weaknesses when it comes to punctuality, customer service and compensation.
Why This Matters for Travellers in Italy
Italy is one of Europe’s busiest travel markets. Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamo Orio al Serio, Venice Marco Polo, Bologna, Naples and Catania all handle millions of passengers every year. Many of these passengers are tourists, but many others are foreign residents, international workers, students, digital nomads and people visiting family abroad.
For these travellers, a delayed flight is not just an inconvenience. It can mean missing a train, arriving late for work, losing a hotel booking or missing an important appointment. For people entering or leaving Italy during peak travel periods, especially summer, Easter and Christmas, the risk becomes even more relevant.
This is why the cheapest ticket is not always the best ticket. A slightly more expensive flight with a better schedule, a more reliable airline or a longer connection window may reduce the risk of serious disruption.
Can You Get Compensation for a Delayed Flight?
Under EU passenger rights, travellers may be entitled to compensation when they arrive at their final destination with a delay of three hours or more, depending on the flight distance, route and reason for the disruption.
Compensation can range from €250 to €600. For shorter flights of 1,500 km or less, the amount can be €250. For medium-distance flights, it can be €400. For certain long-haul flights, it can reach €600.
However, compensation is not automatic in every case. Airlines may not have to pay if the disruption was caused by extraordinary circumstances, such as severe weather, security risks or certain airport disruptions. That is why passengers should always keep boarding passes, booking confirmations, emails from the airline, receipts and screenshots showing the delay.
What Travellers Should Check Before Booking
Before booking a flight to or from Italy, travellers should check more than the ticket price. Departure time, airport location, connection window, luggage rules and airline reputation can all make a major difference if something goes wrong.
This is especially important for people travelling for a visa appointment, a wedding, a job interview, a long-haul connection or an important family event. A flight that looks convenient on paper can become risky if the connection is too tight or if the airline has a poor record for handling disruptions.
Booking directly with the airline can also make communication easier if a flight is changed, cancelled or delayed. Third-party booking platforms may offer low prices, but they can add another layer of complexity when passengers need urgent support.
Why Low-Cost Flights Can Still Be Worth It
This ranking does not mean travellers should avoid low-cost airlines completely. In many cases, low-cost carriers offer the best routes, the most convenient airports and the lowest fares. For short trips with flexible plans, they can still be a smart option.
The important thing is to understand the trade-off. A low fare may come with stricter luggage rules, less flexibility and more difficulty if the flight is disrupted. For a casual weekend trip, that risk may be acceptable. For an important journey, it may not be.
Travellers should also remember that EU passenger rights apply to many flights operated by European airlines, including low-cost carriers. A cheap ticket does not remove your rights if the airline is responsible for a major delay or cancellation.
The Real Takeaway
The Flightright Index 2026 shows that flight delays, cancellations and compensation problems remain a serious issue across Europe. Aer Lingus, Air Europa and Vueling recorded the weakest overall scores, while Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and Air Baltic performed best.
For travellers in Italy, the message is simple: do not choose a flight only because it is cheap. Reliability, customer support and compensation behaviour can matter just as much as price, especially if you are travelling during peak season or for something important.
The best approach is to plan with a margin: avoid tight connections, keep all documents, know your rights and check the airline’s record before booking. In 2026, the smartest traveller is not necessarily the one who finds the lowest fare, but the one who avoids the most expensive disruption.
For the full ranking, the official Flightright Index 2026 is the best starting point. For official information on compensation rules, the European Union’s guide to air passenger rights explains when travellers may be entitled to money back. If you are planning travel in Italy, you may also find our guides on whether airlines can raise prices after you buy a ticket, how to avoid tourist scams in Italy and entry-level cabin crew jobs in Italy useful related reads.
