RYAAY expands Albania ops: 33 routes, 4M passengers, up to $600M plan

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Ryanair announced it will open a new three-aircraft base at Tirana Airport from April 2026, basing three B737-800s and investing $300m. The carrier plans 33 routes across 13 countries for S26, including 10 new routes (Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin and Verona), expects over 450 weekly flights, and targets traffic of 4.0 million passengers per year, supporting over 3,000 jobs in Albania.

Over the next five years Ryanair may grow to up to six based aircraft ($600m invest.), more than 5m passengers p.a. and 20+ new routes by 2030; this expansion is explicitly conditional on Albania maintaining low access costs and zero aviation taxes. A three-day seat sale offers fares from €24.99 for Oct/Nov travel.

Positive

• Announces 3 based B737-800 aircraft at Tirana from April 2026, signaling immediate capacity increase
• Commits $300m initial investment with a potential $600m plan over five years, showing material capital allocation
• Plans 10 new routes and a total of 33 routes across 13 countries, expanding network reach
• Targets 4.0 million passengers p.a. in 2026 and > 5m p.a. by 2030 under the expansion scenario
• States support for local employment, citing over 3,000 jobs supported initially and > 4,000 jobs by 2030 in the expanded plan

Negative

• Reported expansion is explicitly conditional on Albania maintaining low access costs and zero aviation taxes, introducing policy risk to the plan
• The disclosure provides investment amounts and capacity targets but does not include financial projections or expected revenue/profit impact from the new base

Insights

Airline Industry Analyst

TL;DR: A material network and capacity expansion in Albania—3 based B737-800s, 10 new routes, and a target of 4M passengers—strengthens Ryanair's regional footprint.

Ryanair's decision to base three B737-800s in Tirana with a stated $300m investment represents a clear commitment to scale operations rapidly in a developing market. The announcement combines capacity (three aircraft, 450 weekly flights) with route growth (33 routes across 13 countries, 10 additions named), which should increase passenger volumes toward the stated 4.0 million mark for 2026. The planned staged expansion to six aircraft and $600m by 2030 signals long-term network ambition, but the carrier ties execution to Albania's policy on access costs and aviation taxes, which is a pivotal operating condition.

Corporate Strategy Analyst

TL;DR: The move signals strategic market entry and scalability—initial $300m capex with optional up to $600m—contingent on host-country policy.

Ryanair frames the Tirana base as a staged investment: immediate deployment of three aircraft and a three-day promotional fare sale to drive demand, plus an explicit roadmap to double based aircraft and increase passengers to over 5m p.a. by 2030. This approach balances near-term market stimulation with a conditional long-term commitment tied to Albania maintaining low access costs and zero aviation taxes. For stakeholders, the announcement is notable for scale, job impacts (> 3,000 jobs initially), and clear policy sensitivity that could affect realization of the larger $600m scenario.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of August 2025

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office

Dublin Airport

County Dublin Ireland

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual

reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Form 20-F..X.. Form 40-F 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information

contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the

Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange

Act of 1934.

Yes   No ..X..

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant

in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________

RYANAIR TO OPEN NEW TIRANA BASE FOR SUMMER 2026

3 BASED AIRCRAFT, 10 NEW ROUTES (33 TOT.) AS TRAFFIC GROWS TO 4.0M P.A.

Ryanair, Albania's fastest-growing airline today (Thurs, 14 Aug) announced it would open a new - 3 aircraft - base at Tirana Airport from April 2026, basing 3 new B737-800 aircraft - a $300m invest. - supporting over 3,000 jobs, incl. 100 new high-paid jobs for pilots and cabin crew.

Ryanair's new Tirana base will expand its market share in Albania, with over 450 weekly flights on 33 routes for S26, including 10 exciting new routes to Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin, and Verona, as well as increased frequencies on 9 existing routes such as Bari, London, Prague, Stockholm, and Warsaw.

Ryanair's new Tirana S26 base will deliver:

●    3 based a/c - $300M invest.

●    10 new routes to Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin, and Verona

●    33 total routes across 13 countries

●    Traffic grows to 4m pax p.a.

●    Supp. over 3,000 jobs in Albania

Over the next 5 years, Ryanair will continue to invest in Albania, incl. up to 6 based aircraft ($600m invest.), growing to over 5m passengers p.a., opening over 20 new routes, supporting over 4,000 jobs by 2030, provided always that Albania maintains its policy of low access costs and zero aviation taxes to continue stimulating traffic and tourism growth while increasing investment, and jobs.

To celebrate this new S26 - 3 aircraft - Tirana base, Ryanair has announced a 3-day seat sale, with fares starting from just €24,99 for travel in Oct/Nov, available exclusively at ryanair.com.

Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said:

"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.) based at Tirana, supporting over 3,000 local jobs, and operating 33 routes, incl. 10 new routes to Birmingham, Dublin, Milan, Malta, Naples, Pescara, Poznan, Trieste, Turin and Verona.

Ryanair's continued growth at Tirana, offers Albania a massive opportunity to grow its air traffic, tourism & jobs as Ryanair plans to grow to 5m passengers p.a. and base up to 6 a/c at Tirana in a $600m investment which adds over 20 new routes by 2030, provided of course that Albania maintains its current low access costs and zero aviation taxes which stimulates rapid growth in traffic, tourism, investment, and jobs."

Tirana Airport's Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Piervittorio Farabbi said:

"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 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.

Such decision from a partner airline, can only come as a result of a bold commitment on our side to offer operational excellence. We have heavily invested to expand operational capacities both landside and airside with an extended runway, additional parking stands, renovated apron and taxiways and expanded terminal tripled in size. Passenger processing needs to be fast and reliable; that's why we invested in advanced digitalization in check in, boarding and passport control. We are proud to be among the fastest airports that are transformed from operations to a base within only 30 months."

ENDS

For further information

please contact:                                  Ryanair Press Office             

Tel: +353-1-9451799             

press@ryanair.com

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC

Date: 14 August, 2025

By:___/s/ Juliusz Komorek____

Juliusz Komorek

Company Secretary

FAQ

What is Ryanair (RYAAY) announcing for Tirana?

Ryanair announced opening a new Tirana base from April 2026 with 3 B737-800 aircraft and an initial $300m investment.

How many new routes and flights will Ryanair operate from Tirana in S26?

Ryanair will operate 33 routes across 13 countries with over 450 weekly flights in S26, including 10 new routes.

What passenger traffic does Ryanair expect from the Tirana base?

Ryanair expects traffic to grow to 4.0 million passengers per year in 2026 and plans to target > 5m p.a. by 2030 under an expanded scenario.

What job impact does Ryanair cite for Albania?

The announcement states the Tirana base will support over 3,000 jobs initially and over 4,000 jobs by 2030 in the expanded plan.

Are there conditions attached to Ryanair's expansion in Albania?

Yes. Ryanair says further expansion to up to six based aircraft and the larger investment is contingent on Albania keeping low access costs and zero aviation taxes.