Ryanair has announced a major expansion of flights from Bratislava for the winter season of 2026. The carrier is launching four new routes, increasing the number of based aircraft, and forecasting a sharp increase in passenger traffic. For Ukrainians, this means more budget flight options from neighboring Slovakia to popular European destinations. This was reported by Ryanair.
New Ryanair routes from Bratislava will launch in 2026
In the winter schedule of 2026, Ryanair will operate 23 routes from Bratislava. Among the new destinations are:
- Paphos
- Tirana
- Turin
- Warsaw.
To service the new flights, the airline will add a fourth Boeing 737 in Bratislava, with operations starting in October 2026.
Ryanair stated that investments in the Slovak market will amount to around 400 million dollars.
Passenger traffic in Bratislava could rise to 2.2 million people
The airline predicts that after the launch of new flights, the number of passengers in Bratislava will increase by 125% and exceed 2.2 million per year.
Ryanair explains this expansion by the decisions of the Slovak government to reduce costs for airlines. This includes eliminating environmental taxes, decreasing airport fees, and lowering air traffic management charges.
The company stated that these steps have made Slovakia one of the fastest-growing aviation markets in Europe in 2026.
Ryanair promises new jobs and cheap tickets
According to the carrier's estimates, the expansion of flights will support over 1,600 jobs, including for pilots and cabin crew.
To celebrate the launch of new routes, Ryanair has also announced a three-day ticket sale. The minimum ticket price starts at 29.99 euros.
The company's CEO Michael O'Leary stated that the low-cost strategy allows increasing the number of flights and making air travel more accessible for passengers.
For Ukrainians, Bratislava remains one of the closest international aviation hubs from which one can travel cheaply to European countries.
Please note, Ryanair is changing registration and baggage drop-off rules at airports. These new requirements will take effect from November 10, 2026, and will affect the arrival time of passengers before departure.