Belfast, 8 October 2026 — The European Regions Airline Association (ERAA) celebrated the achievements of Europe’s regional airlines at its annual Airline Awards ceremony, held during the ERAA General Assembly in Belfast.
The awards recognise airlines that are shaping the future of regional aviation through excellence in connectivity, sustainability, innovation and people development.
This year’s top honour, the ERAA Airline of the Year 2026, was awarded to Widerøe, which also received the ERAA Regional Connectivity Award. Widerøe stood out for its strong all-round performance and the value it delivers to the communities it serves. The judges highlighted its role in maintaining vital links for remote regions, strengthening essential regional and public service routes and supporting regional economic development. Its continued investment in sustainability, innovation, people and future talent also contributed to its selection as Airline of the Year.
Tore Jenssen, CEO of Widerøe, said:
“It is a great honour to receive two awards, recognising both the strong network and connectivity we offer our customers and our performance as the Best European Regional Airline of the Year. Above all, these awards are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our people, who go the extra mile for our customers every single day. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and this recognition gives us even more momentum to keep improving and innovating. We have an exciting journey ahead, and we look forward to continuing to build on this success together.”
ASL Airlines Ireland received the ERAA People and Culture Award for putting its people at the centre of its success. Its focus on employee engagement, leadership development, wellbeing and inclusion has helped create a culture where employees can thrive, while its investment in developing the next generation of aviation professionals was also recognised by the judges.
John Rawl, Managing Director at ASL Airlines Ireland, said:
“We are delighted to receive the ERAA People and Culture Award 2026. We recognise that we need to work every day to further develop an inclusive culture and adapt to a changing world. This award recognises the quality and value of the initiatives and programmes implemented by ASLI over the past 18 months and we appreciate this recognition from the ERAA and look forward to building on this work in the future.”
The ERAA Innovation Award was presented to KLM Cityhopper for its use of innovation to strengthen its operation. Through creative engineering, predictive technologies and collaboration across the industry, the airline has introduced solutions that support greater resilience, efficiency and sustainability.
Maarten Koopmans, Managing Director of KLM Cityhopper, said:
‘’It is a great honour to receive the ERAA Innovation Airline Award 2026. Innovation is part of KLM Cityhopper’s DNA. We are proud to play a pioneering role within the KLM Group by testing and implementing new solutions to complex operational & sustainability challenges. This recognition reflects the dedication of our people and the power of collaboration in delivering innovative results for our business and its future. ‘’
For HOP!, the judges recognised its measurable progress on sustainability across both its air and ground operations. The airline received the ERAA Sustainability Award for reducing emissions, energy consumption and waste, and for demonstrating how environmental commitments can be translated into practical, measurable results across the business.
Hervé BOURY, CEO of HOP!, said:
“We are very proud to receive the ERAA Sustainability Award 2026, which recognises the dedication and collective efforts of all our teams. This distinction highlights the tangible progress we have made in reducing our environmental footprint, both in the air and on the ground. From optimising flight operations and reducing fuel consumption to improving energy efficiency across our sites and facilities, 100% waste sorting in our main maintenance center, sustainability is embedded across our business. This award encourages us to accelerate our efforts and continue building a more sustainable future for regional aviation.”
Together, this year’s winners reflect the breadth of work taking place across Europe’s regional aviation sector. From maintaining essential connections and supporting local communities to investing in people, developing new solutions and reducing environmental impact, each airline has made a distinct contribution to the future of regional aviation.
ERAA congratulates all the 2026 winners on their achievements and thanks them for their continued contribution to the regional aviation the communities it serves.
Images of the winners can be downloaded here.