Ryanair expands Katowice base with four new routes for Summer 2026

Ryanair has unveiled its summer 2026 schedule from Katowice Airport, announcing four new routes and an additional based aircraft in what the carrier describes as a record-breaking expansion.

The Irish low-cost airline will operate 26 routes from Katowice during the summer season, including new services to Malaga, Lamezia Terme, Aarhus and Tirana.

New routes and frequencies

The Katowice–Malaga route will launch on 30 March 2026, operating twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays.

Three additional destinations will follow from 2 June 2026:

• Aarhus – Tuesdays and Saturdays

• Lamezia Terme – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

• Tirana – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Nine aircraft based in Katowice

For summer 2026, Ryanair will base nine aircraft at Katowice — one more than in the previous season. Of these, three will operate scheduled services, while six will be deployed on charter flights.

The airline estimates its total investment in the region at $900 million. Annual traffic from Katowice is projected to exceed 2.2 million passengers across scheduled and charter operations combined. Ryanair states that its presence supports more than 1,700 jobs locally, including nearly 600 direct roles for pilots, cabin crew and ground handling personnel.

Strategic importance within Poland

Katowice remains one of the Ryanair Group’s key operational centres in Poland, particularly in the charter segment. The expansion further consolidates the airport’s role within the carrier’s Central European network.

In 2025, Katowice Airport handled 6.39 million passengers, surpassing its previous record of 5.61 million set in 2023. The airport is Poland’s market leader in charter traffic and a major regional player in commercial cargo.

With additional capacity and new leisure-focused routes, summer 2026 is set to reinforce Katowice’s position as one of the country’s fastest-growing regional gateways.