Ryanair to open new Tirana Airport home from April 2026, up to 6 based aircraft
Ryanair has announced plans to open a new base at Tirana Airport (TIA) from April 2026, in an effort to expand its market share in Albania.
On August 14, 2025, the Irish low-cost carrier said three new Boeing 737-800 aircraft would be based at its new European home, supporting over 3,000 jobs. Ryanair said the investment would provide 100 new “high-paid jobs” for pilots and cabin crew.
The development would include 10 new routes to Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin, and Verona.
Additionally, nine existing routes such as Bari, London, Prague, Stockholm, and Warsaw would see more frequent flights.
“As Albania’s only truly low fares airline, Ryanair is pleased to announce this new S26 – 3 aircraft – Tirana base. Since launching our first Albania flights in Nov 2023, Ryanair has worked closely with our partners in Tirana Airport to deliver ambitious growth, which will now see Ryanair’s traffic grow to over 4m passengers in 2026, with 3 new B737-800 aircraft ($300m invest),” said Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary.
The airline said that over the next five years, it will continue to invest in Albania, with up to six based aircraft, growing to over five million passengers per year.
The company would also be opening over 20 new routes and supporting over 4,000 jobs by 2030, “provided that Albania maintains its policy of low access costs and zero aviation taxes”.
“Upon starting the operations in Albania back in November 2023, the Ryanair team came with a slogan of ‘Low Fares Revolution’ in Albania. Today, we mark a pivotal moment in this revolution by announcing the opening of a base in Tirana. Starting next summer season, there will be much more opportunities to explore the world from Tirana and to expose touristic Albania to more countries,” said Tirana Airport’s Chief Operating Officer, Piervittorio Farabbi.
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The post Ryanair to open new Tirana Airport home from April 2026, up to 6 based aircraft appeared first on AeroTime.
Ryanair has announced plans to open a new base at Tirana Airport (TIA) from April 2026, in an effort…
The post Ryanair to open new Tirana Airport home from April 2026, up to 6 based aircraft appeared first on AeroTime.
