Ryanair Reports 125% Traffic Growth, Adds Fourth Bratislava Aircraft and Four New Routes.

With 23 flights, including four new ones to Paphos, Tirana, Turin, and Warsaw, Ryanair unveiled a record W2026 schedule at Bratislava that would increase traffic by 125% to over 2.2 million passengers annually. Ryanair will add a fourth based B737 aircraft in Bratislava starting in October 2026 to serve this record W2026 schedule. This USD 400 million investment will support over 1,600 local employment, including 30 new high-paying pilot and cabin crew positions.

According to reports, the airline’s USD 400 million investment and 125% increase in traffic at Bratislava are a direct result of Slovak Transport Minister Jozef Raž’s proactive program to increase tourist and traffic by eliminating environmental levies, reducing airport costs, and lowering ATC rates. Due to this policy, Slovakia’s aviation market is expected to develop at the fastest rate in Europe in 2026, with a record 170% increase in traffic in April.

Ryanair has started a three-day seat sale in honour of its fourth based aircraft and four additional routes to and from Bratislava for W2026.

Michael O’Leary of Ryanair stated, “This rapid Ryanair growth is due to Slovakia’s pro-growth aviation policies, including zero enviro taxes and lower ATC fees, which give Slovak citizens/visitors even more low fare travel choices and strengthen Bratislava’s position as one of Europe’s fastest growing airports.” Ryanair is certain that the Slovak government and Bratislava Airport will maintain this effective low-cost/high-growth strategy, which has made Slovakia one of Europe’s fastest growing aviation markets, since lower entry prices are the only way to achieve rapid growth.

Dušan Novota, CEO of Bratislava Airport stated, “Over the past year, Ryanair has reached a major milestone in Bratislava, expanding its base from two aircraft to three and now four aircraft after more than ten years of operating a two-aircraft base. Bratislava has emerged as one of Europe’s fastest-growing airports, partly due to Ryanair’s sustained expansion. We greatly appreciate this fruitful collaboration and Ryanair’s ongoing expansion in the Slovak market, as it has been a significant and enduring partner of Bratislava Airport for over 20 years.”