Tourexpi
Ryanair expands Tirana base with fourth aircraft for summer 2026
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.
Image Credit: © Ryanair
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