Ambitious plans unveiled this week by Ryanair have the potential to transform Albania’s tourism and aviation landscape.
Ryanair revealed on Wednesday it is to establish a new operational base at Tirana International Airport in Albania, set to commence in April 2026, a €275 million (US$300 million) investment according to the airline’s own caculations.
Three Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be stationed at the base, supporting over 3,000 jobs, including 100 high-paid positions for pilots and cabin crew. The move, with Ryanair projecting an annual passenger traffic of 4 million by 2026, reinforcing its position as the country’s fastest-growing airline.
How much Albania’s government contributed to the deal is not disclosed, but Ryanair has a record of seeking and receiving substantial incentives from the airports where they fly.
The Tirana base will see Ryanair operate over 450 weekly flights across 33 routes, connecting Albania to 13 countries. Ten new routes will be introduced, linking Tirana to Dublin (2w), Birmingham, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin, and Verona, alongside increased frequencies on existing routes such as Bari, London, Prague, Stockholm, and Warsaw. Since entering the Albanian market in November 2023, Ryanair has rapidly expanded its presence, capitalising on the country’s growing appeal as a tourist destination with its Mediterranean beaches and cultural heritage. To celebrate the announcement, the airline launched a three-day seat sale with fares starting at €24.99 for travel in October and November 2025, available exclusively on its website.
Ryanair’s long-term vision for Albania is equally bold, with plans to double its investment to £470 million (US$600 million) by 2030, potentially basing up to six aircraft and serving over 5 million passengers annually while adding more than 20 new routes. However, the airline has emphasised that this growth is contingent on Albania maintaining its policy of low airport access costs and zero aviation taxes, which have been instrumental in stimulating traffic and tourism. Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, underscored the partnership with Tirana Airport, highlighting its role in delivering a “low fares revolution” that enhances connectivity and economic growth.
Tirana International Airport has been upgraded to support this expansion, including an extended runway, additional parking stands, renovated taxiways, and a terminal tripled in size. Advanced digitalisation in check-in, boarding, and passport control has also been implemented to ensure operational efficiency. The airport’s chief operating officer, Piervittorio Farabbi, described the base as a pivotal moment, noting that the transformation from an operational station to a base in just 30 months reflects the airport’s commitment to excellence. The collaboration is expected to boost Albania’s tourism sector, providing greater access to European travellers and fostering economic benefits for local businesses.
The establishment of the Tirana base positions Ryanair to compete fiercely with rivals like Wizz Air, which also operates in Albania. By leveraging its low-cost model and extensive network, Ryanair aims to capture a significant market share, further cementing Albania as an emerging hub in Southeastern Europe. As the country continues to develop its infrastructure and tourism appeal, Ryanair’s investment signals confidence in Albania’s potential to become a key player in European aviation.
Ryanair’s largest base is London Stansted (STN) with 43 aircraft, followed by Dublin (DUB) with 24 aircraft. Milan Bergamo (BGY) is the largest base in Italy with 18 aircraft. Bases such as Chania, Corfu, Rhodes, and Zadar, operate during peak travel seasons.
Ryanair based aircraft by airport
- Abruzzo Airport (PSR), Italy (Pescara): 2 aircraft
- Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), Spain: 8 aircraft
- Agadir–Al Massira Airport (AGA), Morocco: 2 aircraft
- Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC), Spain: 6 aircraft
- Athens International Airport (ATH), Greece: 3 aircraft
- Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (BRI), Italy: 4 aircraft
- Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA), France: 3 aircraft
- Belfast International Airport (BFS), 2 aircraft
- Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), Germany: 5 aircraft
- Billund Airport (BLL), Denmark: 2 aircraft
- Birmingham Airport (BHX), England: 3 aircraft
- Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ), Italy: 5 aircraft
- Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (BOD), France: 2 aircraft
- Bournemouth Airport (BOH), England: 1 aircraft
- Brindisi Airport (BDS), Italy: 2 aircraft
- Bristol Airport (BRS), England: 2 aircraft
- Brussels South Charleroi Airport (CRL), Belgium: 7 aircraft
- Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport (OTP), Romania: 3 aircraft
- Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD), Hungary: 4 aircraft
- Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG), Italy: 2 aircraft
- Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), Italy: 4 aircraft
- Chania International Airport (CHQ), Greece: 2 aircraft (seasonal)
- Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN), Germany: 3 aircraft
- Copernicus Airport Wrocław (WRO), Poland: 3 aircraft
- Corfu International Airport (CFU), Greece: 2 aircraft (seasonal)
- Cork Airport (ORK), Ireland: 2 aircraft
- Dublin Airport (DUB), Ireland: 24 aircraft
- Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), Croatia: 2 aircraft
- East Midlands Airport (EMA), England: 3 aircraft
- Edinburgh Airport (EDI), Scotland: 4 aircraft
- Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO), Italy (Palermo): 3 aircraft
- Faro International Airport (FAO), Portugal: 3 aircraft
- Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO), Portugal (Porto): 4 aircraft
- Frankfurt–Hahn Airport (HHN), Germany: 2 aircraft
- Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN), Poland: 3 aircraft
- Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK), Scotland: 1 aircraft
- Göteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT), Sweden: 2 aircraft
- Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Portugal (Lisbon): 4 aircraft
- Ibiza Airport (IBZ), Spain: 2 aircraft (seasonal)
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (BCN), Spain: 10 aircraft
- Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport (FKB), Germany: 2 aircraft
- Katowice Wojciech Korfanty Airport (KTW), Poland: 3 aircraft
- Kaunas Airport (KUN), Lithuania: 2 aircraft
- Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK), Poland: 6 aircraft
- Lamezia Terme International Airport (SUF), Italy: 2 aircraft
- Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), England: 2 aircraft
- Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LPL), England: 2 aircraft
- London Luton Airport (LTN), England: 6 aircraft
- London Stansted Airport (STN), England: 43 aircraft
- M. R. Štefánik Airport (BTS), Slovakia (Bratislava): 2 aircraft
- Málaga Airport (AGP), Spain: 6 aircraft
- Malta International Airport (MLA), Malta: 4 aircraft
- Manchester Airport (MAN), England: 5 aircraft
- Marrakesh Menara Airport (RAK), Morocco: 3 aircraft
- Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), France: 2 aircraft
- Memmingen Airport (FMM), Germany: 2 aircraft
- Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), Italy: 5 aircraft
- Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP), Italy: 4 aircraft
- Newcastle International Airport (NCL), England: 2 aircraft
- Nuremberg Airport (NUE), Germany: 2 aircraft
- Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY), Italy (Milan Bergamo): 18 aircraft
- Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), Spain: 6 aircraft
- Paphos International Airport (PFO), Cyprus: 2 aircraft
- Pisa International Airport (PSA), Italy: 3 aircraft
- Ponta Delgada–João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Portugal: 1 aircraft
- Poznań–Ławica Henryk Wieniawski Airport (POZ), Poland: 2 aircraft
- Rhodes International Airport “Diagoras” (RHO), Greece: 2 aircraft (seasonal)
- Riga International Airport (RIX), Latvia: 2 aircraft
- Rome–Ciampino International Airport (CIA), Italy: 4 aircraft
- Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO), Italy: 5 aircraft
- Saïss Airport (FEZ), Morocco: 2 aircraft
- Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ), Spain: 2 aircraft
- Seville Airport (SVQ), Spain: 3 aircraft
- Shannon Airport (SNN), Ireland: 2 aircraft
- Sofia Airport (SOF), Bulgaria: 3 aircraft
- Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), Sweden: 3 aircraft
- Tenerife South Airport (TFS), Spain: 3 aircraft
- Thessaloniki Airport (SKG), Greece: 2 aircraft
- Tirana International Airport (TIA), Albania: 3 aircraft (from April 2026)
- Toulouse–Blagnac Airport (TLS), France: 2 aircraft
- Treviso Airport (TSF), Italy: 3 aircraft
- Turin Airport (TRN), Italy: 2 aircraft
- Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG), Czech Republic: 3 aircraft
- Valencia Airport (VLC), Spain: 4 aircraft
- Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), Italy: 2 aircraft
- Vienna International Airport (VIE), Austria: 4 aircraft
- Vilnius International Airport (VNO), Lithuania: 2 aircraft
- Warsaw Modlin Airport (WMI), Poland: 5 aircraft
- Weeze Airport (NRN), Germany: 2 aircraft
- Zadar Airport (ZAD), Croatia: 2 aircraft (seasonal)
- Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG), Croatia: 2 aircraft
