- The ERAA Airline Awards ceremony was held during the ERAA General Assembly in Belfast
- Widerøe won ERAA Airline of the Year 2026 and the ERAA Regional Connectivity Award
- ASL Airlines Ireland received the ERAA People and Culture Award
- KLM Cityhopper received the ERAA Innovation Award
- HOP! received the ERAA Sustainability Award
The European Regions Airline Association has 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. The ceremony took place during the ERAA General Assembly 2026, which is being hosted at the ICC Belfast from 6 to 8 October.
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 recognised 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.
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. 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. 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. Together, this year’s winners reflect the breadth of work taking place across Europe’s regional aviation sector.
Tore Jenssen shared “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.”
