Ryanair has unveiled a record-breaking schedule from its base in Bratislava, Slovakia, for the 2026 summer season.
With three based aircraft (one brand-new) and 10 new routes, the low-cost carrier is aiming to grow its Bratislava traffic to more than 2 million passengers per year — an increase of 70% above current levels.
In summer 2026, Ryanair will offer 33 routes from the Slovakian capital, including new routes to Alicante, Athens, Barcelona, Lamezia, Malaga, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Tirana, and Warsaw. It will also offer increased frequencies on eight existing routes.
Ryanair said it has invested €300m in building out its Bratislava hub, adding that the investment is a “direct result” of the “proactive” efforts by the airport and the Slovakian government to lower airport charges and air traffic control (ATC) fees.
“Compared with nearby (failing) Vienna, where high costs and harmful government taxes continue to damage traffic, tourism, and jobs, these lower costs have made Bratislava more competitive and enabled Ryanair to accelerate year-round traffic,” the airline said.
Last month, Ryanair confirmed that it will cut two aircraft from its Vienna base, due to Austria's “failure to scrap its harmful aviation tax and lower Vienna Airport’s excessive fees”.
The low-cost carrier has now cut three aircraft and three routes from Vienna for the upcoming winter season.
According to the airline, the Austrian government “ignored” a proposal from Ryanair to invest €1bn in the country, which was submitted to Chancellor Christian Stocker in September.
The plan would have seen Ryanair base another 10 Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 aircraft in the country by 2030, with the aim of growing its total traffic in Austria to more than 12 million passengers a year — up 70% from current levels.
“High-cost and high-tax Austria continues to lose aircraft, traffic, tourism, and jobs to lower-cost neighbours Italy and Slovakia,” Ryanair said.