The Ryanair Group is accelerating expansion across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) for Summer 2026, targeting 15% capacity growth as airports in the region negotiate lower operating costs. Key growth markets include Albania, Poland and Slovakia. To support the shift, eight 189-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft are being reallocated from Ryanair DAC Western European bases to the group’s Polish subsidiary Buzz, which will operate 87 aircraft in Summer 2026.
Speaking on Ryanair Holdings plc (RYAAY) Q3 FY2026 earnings call on 26 January Ryanair Commercial Director, Jason McGuinness, said “We are growing, as we said we would, Central and Eastern Europe capacity very, very quickly. Like, it’s going to grow by 15% this summer. Not to repeat it, but Poland, Albania, and Slovakia are all growing by double digits. Central and Eastern Europe is growing very, very well and absorbing the capacity very, very well.”
In Bratislava, Ryanair will base three aircraft (one new) at Bratislava Airport as part of a $300 million investment, adding 10 routes and targeting 70% traffic growth to 2 million passengers annually.
At Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Ryanair is basing 11th aircraft to support a record 6.5 million annual seats across 67 routes, including five new services.
In Poland, the airline has unveiled its largest-ever Summer schedule at Katowice Airport, with 26 routes and nine based aircraft (three scheduled and six charter). At Kraków John Paul II International Airport, three additional based aircraft will expand the fleet to 15 aircraft, supporting 86 routes. Further growth includes five based aircraft at Poznań–Ławica Airport (four scheduled and one charter), including two Boeing 737-8200 “Gamechanger” aircraft, and doubling capacity at Warsaw Modlin Airport from four to seven aircraft operating a total of 49 routes.
In Southeast Europe, Ryanair will open a new four Boeing 737-800 aircraft base at Tirana International Airport in Tirana, operating 43 routes, operated by Buzz.
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