KRAKÓW— Ryanair (FR) has announced a major expansion of its base at Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) for the Summer 2026 season. The carrier will add three new Boeing 737 aircraft, bringing its total based fleet in the city to 15 jets.
The expansion represents a $1.5 billion investment in Kraków and reinforces the airline’s position as Poland’s largest carrier. With this growth, Ryanair plans to increase annual passenger traffic by 13 percent to 8 million travelers while strengthening connectivity across Europe and the Middle East.
Ryanair’s Fleet Expansion at Krakow
Ryanair’s Summer 2026 schedule will feature 15 based aircraft in Kraków, marking its largest base in Central Europe.
The additional three Boeing 737s will support both new routes and higher frequencies across the network.
The airline confirmed that it will operate 86 routes from Kraków during the peak summer season. This includes frequency increases on 47 existing routes, allowing passengers more flexibility and improved schedule options.
The capacity growth is expected to support over 6,000 jobs in Kraków and the wider Małopolska region.
These roles span direct airline employment as well as airport and tourism-related positions linked to higher passenger throughput.
Ryanair’s Four New Routes
As part of the S2026 expansion, Ryanair will launch four new routes to Amman, Bucharest, Budapest, and Sofia.
These additions broaden the airline’s footprint in Central and Eastern Europe while introducing new leisure and city-break options for Polish travelers.
The Amman service strengthens connections between Poland and Jordan, while Bucharest and Sofia enhance links within the European Union region. Budapest joins the network as a popular cultural and tourism destination along the Danube corridor.
Airport authorities in Kraków welcomed the announcement, noting that several of these destinations were previously served only during the winter months.
The new summer operations are expected to stimulate outbound tourism and inbound visitor flows.
Traffic and Investment in Krakow
Ryanair projects that passenger numbers in Kraków will rise from just over 7 million last year to 8 million annually under the expanded schedule.
The 13 percent growth reflects both additional aircraft capacity and higher flight frequencies.
Beyond route development, the airline has invested in long-term infrastructure at Kraków Airport, including Poland’s first Boeing 737 simulator and crew training center. The facility trains pilots, cabin crew, and engineers, positioning Kraków as a regional aviation training hub.
To mark the expansion, Ryanair has launched a three-day promotional seat sale with fares starting from 126 PLN. The campaign aims to stimulate early bookings for Summer 2026 and reinforce its low-fare strategy in the Polish market.
Ryanair stated that Kraków remains a strategic base within its broader European growth plan. By combining fleet expansion, new destinations, and operational investment, the airline continues to scale its presence while maintaining a cost-focused model.
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