- New Ryanair base at Tirana International Airport from April 2026
- $300 million investment for three permanently stationed Boeing 737-800s
- 33 routes, including 10 new destinations like Milan, Dublin, Naples
- Over 3,000 jobs, including 100 direct hires for pilots and crew
- 4 million passengers annually projected
- Expansion plan: 6 aircraft, 5+ million pax, 20+ new routes by 2030
- Catch? Albania must maintain zero air taxes and low airport fees.
Tirana’s Runway Dreams, Now Boarding
For a country that not long ago barely featured on the European aviation map, Albania is getting the kind of attention that makes budget airlines blush. Ryanair, never one to tiptoe into a market, has announced it will establish a new operational base in Tirana by April 2026, bringing with it three Boeing 737-800s, $300 million, and what it calls “a huge opportunity” for growth.
According to CEO Michael O’Leary, the expansion reflects Ryanair’s commitment to Albania’s “dynamic” potential to boost air traffic, tourism, and employment. But do not mistake this for charity. This base—and the long-term vision attached to it—comes with conditions.
Cheap Airports, Expensive Promises
Ryanair is playing the long game, but only if Albania plays by the rules. Specifically: keep air access cheap and aviation taxes at zero. If that shifts, so might Ryanair’s plans. For now, however, the ambitions are loud and clear.
From next summer, 33 routes will be flying in and out of Tirana International Airport, covering 13 countries. Ten are new, including Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin, and Verona. Additional frequencies are also coming to existing routes such as London, Bari, Prague, Stockholm, and Warsaw.
In pure Ryanair fashion, the numbers come at you fast:
- $300 million sunk into three aircraft
- 450+ weekly flights planned
- 33 destinations, including 10 new cities
- 4 million passengers/year forecast
- Over 3,000 jobs, with 100 direct hires
- 2030 vision: 6 aircraft, 20+ new routes, 5+ million pax/year
Still, it all hinges on maintaining those “low access costs,” a phrase O’Leary repeated with the casual urgency of someone reading a prenup before saying “I do.”
Tirana Steps Up Its Game
To host a base of this scale, Tirana Airport has been playing catch-up—fast. According to COO Piervittorio Farabbi, the Ryanair deal “is the result of strategic investment in infrastructure and technology,” including expanded runways, aircraft parking, passenger terminals, and digital systems designed to handle the upcoming traffic surge.
It is an upgrade that, not long ago, would have seemed aspirational. Now, it is merely necessary.
Three Days, €24.99, No Excuses
To celebrate, Ryanair is offering a 3-day ticket sale with fares starting from €24.99, valid for October and November travel. Tickets are, of course, available only via the company’s website. Luggage, snacks, seat selection, breathing? Extra.
Still, it is a move designed to show the Albanians that Ryanair does not just land—it settles in. That is, if the airport keeps smiling and the tax policy stays frozen.