Bratislava Airport Adds Six New Routes for Summer 2025
Bratislava M R Štefánik Airport, the gateway to Slovakia’s capital, handled 1.9 million passengers in 2024, a 7.4 percent increase over the previous year, and is gearing up for further growth this summer. Located just nine kilometers from downtown Bratislava, the airport has strengthened its international network through strategic partnerships and new services, aiming to capture more point-to-point travelers and reduce the loss of traffic to nearby hubs.
In 2024, BTS entered into a year-round partnership with Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines, launching twice-weekly flights to Istanbul that have since doubled to four weekly departures as of May 2025. Pegasus also resumed its seasonal service to Antalya in April, offering four weekly connections and catering to both leisure and business travelers seeking the Turkish coast.
The standout expansion this season comes from Ryanair, which celebrated a decade of base operations at Bratislava in March and has committed a third aircraft to BTS. The Irish carrier will operate a record 24 routes, including six new destinations: Bari in Italy’s Puglia region, Milan Malpensa, Poland’s Gdansk, Greece’s island of Skiathos, and Croatia’s Zadar. Ryanair forecasts a 25 percent increase in its BTS passenger traffic, anticipating 1.1 million travelers on its Bratislava network in 2025 alone.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is also broadening its footprint by introducing twice-weekly flights to Copenhagen from late June, strengthening the airport’s Scandinavian connections. This addition aligns with Norwegian’s strategy to link Bratislava with key business and leisure markets in northern Europe.
Despite its rapid growth, BTS recognizes a gap in service to certain major markets. With a catchment area of more than six million residents, the airport seeks to develop new point-to-point services and international hub connections that reflect evolving travel patterns. Route Development Manager Daniel Kulla told Routes Europe in Seville that Spain, Germany, France and Scandinavia remain under-served. “This year we are focusing mainly on Spain as we don’t have a direct scheduled connection to mainland Spain,” he explained, highlighting Madrid and Barcelona as prime targets for future routes.
To raise its profile among airline partners, Bratislava Airport leverages its membership in Routes 360, showcasing current operations, unserved opportunities and its participation in global aviation forums. By communicating the airport’s strategic priorities and passenger growth potential, BTS aims to attract new carriers and frequency increases that will diversify its international offerings.
With low domestic competition and strong demand for direct flights, BTS’s summer schedule positions the airport for further gains. The combination of established routes to major hubs, expanded leisure services to Mediterranean destinations and targeted new links reflects Bratislava’s ambition to become a leading Central European airport.
As carriers ramp up for the peak travel season, BTS’s new routes will offer passengers greater choice and convenience. Business travelers benefit from direct access to key European capitals, while vacationers can reach sun-soaked beaches and historic cities without connecting flights. With a refreshed network and a local market eager for diverse destinations, Bratislava Airport is set to welcome record numbers of travelers this summer.
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