Ryanair expands Kraków base with three additional aircraft for summer 2026

International

Four new routes and increased frequencies expected to boost traffic to eight million passengers

Ryanair is expanding its operations at Kraków Airport for the summer 2026 schedule. The airline announced the addition of three new Boeing 737 aircraft at the Polish base, increasing the locally stationed fleet to 15 aircraft. According to the airline, the expansion represents an investment of around 1.5 billion US dollars.

With the additional aircraft, Ryanair plans to launch four new routes from Kraków to Amman, Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia. In total, the airline will operate 86 routes from the airport during the summer season.

Passenger traffic expected to grow by 13 percent

Ryanair expects passenger numbers at its Kraków base to rise by 13 percent to around eight million travelers annually. The expansion is also expected to support more than 6,000 jobs in Kraków and the surrounding Małopolska region.

In addition to the new destinations, the airline will increase frequencies on 47 existing routes. The move further strengthens Kraków’s role within Ryanair’s network in Central Europe.

Kraków becomes key hub in Central Europe

Ryanair has recently expanded its investments at Kraków Airport beyond flight operations. The company opened Poland’s first Boeing 737 simulator and crew training centre at the airport, a facility designed to train pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

“Kraków is now Ryanair’s biggest base in Central Europe and a key investment hub for our airline,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary.

“As Poland’s number one airline, Ryanair is pleased to unveil a record Kraków summer schedule for 2026 with 15 based aircraft. We will open four exciting new routes to Amman, Bucharest, Budapest and Sofia and increase frequencies on 47 other routes, which will see our Kraków traffic grow by 13 percent to eight million passengers.”

Airport welcomes expansion

Kraków Airport also welcomed the expansion of the airline’s base. According to airport management, more than 7.05 million passengers traveled with Ryanair through Kraków last year.

“We are very pleased that Ryanair is announcing further development of its base at Kraków Airport,” said Łukasz Strutyński, president of the management board of Kraków–Balice Airport.

He added that the new routes for summer 2026 will offer travelers direct access to destinations such as Amman, Bucharest, Sofia and Budapest. The summer flight schedule at Kraków Airport begins on 29 March.