Ryanair expands Tirana base with fourth aircraft for summer 2026

International

A USD 400 million investment enables 20 new routes, boosts capacity by 50 percent and strengthens Albania’s connectivity.

Ryanair has announced a major expansion at Tirana Airport with the basing of a fourth Boeing 737-800 aircraft from April 2026. The move, representing an investment of around USD 400 million, underlines the airline’s growth strategy in Albania and will significantly expand its route network and passenger volumes for the summer 2026 season.

Network growth and new routes

With the additional aircraft, Ryanair will introduce 20 new routes from Tirana, including destinations such as Alghero, Baden-Baden, Eindhoven, Genoa, Memmingen, Parma and Wroclaw. These will complement the 23 existing services, bringing the total number of Ryanair routes from Tirana to 43 for summer 2026. The expanded schedule is expected to drive traffic growth of around 50 percent, reaching approximately four million passengers in 2026.

Jobs and economic impact

The expansion will support more than 3,000 jobs in Albania, including 120 new, well-paid positions for Ryanair pilots and cabin crew based in Tirana. According to the airline, the growth reflects the strong demand for low-fare travel and the increasing importance of Tirana as a regional aviation hub.

Supportive framework conditions

Ryanair attributes the investment to the Albanian government’s decision to abolish aviation taxes and to Tirana Airport’s growth incentive schemes, which aim to keep access costs low and stimulate traffic development. These conditions have played a central role in enabling the airline’s rapid expansion in the market.

Outlook to 2030

Looking ahead, Ryanair plans to continue investing in Albania over the next five years. Subject to the continuation of the zero aviation tax policy and competitive airport charges, the airline aims to base up to six Boeing 737 aircraft in Tirana, representing a total investment of around USD 600 million. By 2030, this could translate into more than six million passengers annually, over 60 routes and support for more than 4,000 jobs.

Promotional fare offer

To mark the addition of its fourth based aircraft and the launch of 20 new routes, Ryanair has introduced a three-day seat sale. A total of 100,000 seats are available from EUR 29.99 and can be booked via the Ryanair app.