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Katowice Airport will gain four new international routes in summer 2026, as Ryanair adds flights to Malaga, Lamezia Terme, Aarhus and Tirana in a record expansion that strengthens Poland’s tourism links across Europe.
Record summer schedule from a growing Polish hub
Ryanair has unveiled its summer 2026 schedule from Katowice Airport, confirming a network of 26 routes and four brand new destinations that underline the Silesian hub’s rising importance on the European map. The Irish low cost carrier will base nine aircraft at Katowice next summer, one more than in the previous season, allowing for both expanded scheduled services and strong charter operations.
The new services will connect southern Poland more directly with key leisure and city break markets. Malaga on Spain’s Costa del Sol joins the network from 30 March 2026, with flights scheduled twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. The remaining three routes launch at the start of June, coinciding with the peak holiday period.
From 2 June 2026, Katowice passengers will be able to fly to Aarhus in Denmark on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while services to Lamezia Terme in southern Italy and to the Albanian capital Tirana will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Together, the additions are expected to help push annual traffic at Katowice beyond 2 million passengers across scheduled and charter operations in the 2026 summer season.
Airport officials describe the decision to add a ninth based aircraft and four new routes as a clear vote of confidence in the region’s demand potential. Industry observers note that Katowice has steadily shifted from a primarily charter-focused airport to a more balanced mix of low cost, scheduled and holiday traffic, mirroring wider trends in the Polish market.
New links: Costa del Sol, Calabria, Aarhus and Tirana
Each of the four new routes taps into a distinct and growing segment of outbound and inbound travel. Malaga, served from late March, targets early season sunseekers as well as independent travellers exploring Andalusia. With flights timed at the start and end of the working week, the schedule is designed to work for both long weekend breaks and week-long holidays on the Mediterranean.
Lamezia Terme in Calabria opens up one of Italy’s fastest rising coastal regions for Polish holidaymakers. The airport serves as a gateway to the Tyrrhenian coastline and hilltop towns of southern Italy, which have seen increasing interest from travellers seeking alternatives to more crowded destinations further north. Three weekly flights from Katowice should give tour operators and independent travellers flexible options across the main summer months.
Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city, brings a Scandinavian city break option to the Katowice network. With departures twice weekly, the route is expected to appeal both to Polish tourists drawn by the city’s waterfront, cultural institutions and cycling-friendly streets, and to Danish visitors heading in the opposite direction to discover Silesia and southern Poland.
The Tirana service reflects Albania’s rapid rise as a value focused Mediterranean destination. Direct flights from Katowice three times per week will feed demand for the Adriatic coastline as well as for city stays in the Albanian capital, which is positioning itself as a lively base for exploring the region’s mountains and beaches. Travel agents expect strong interest from price sensitive Polish tourists looking beyond more established resorts.
Economic boost and strategic investment in Silesia
The enlarged Katowice base represents a significant investment in southern Poland. Ryanair estimates the value of the nine aircraft stationed at the airport in summer 2026 at around 900 million US dollars, underlining the scale of its commitment to the market. The carrier and local authorities expect the expanded operation to support hundreds of direct aviation jobs and well over a thousand positions in tourism, services and ancillary sectors across the region.
Airport management has welcomed the move as a sign that Katowice is consolidating its position within the airline’s Polish portfolio. The presence of nine based aircraft will also help stabilise capacity for charter flights, which play a major role in the region’s outbound leisure market, particularly to Mediterranean beach destinations.
For local tourism stakeholders, improved connectivity is viewed as a crucial lever for attracting visitors to Silesia and nearby regions, including Kraków and the Beskid mountains. Better direct links are expected not only to drive outbound leisure travel, but also to encourage inbound city breaks, business trips and diaspora visits from Spain, Italy, Denmark and Albania.
The investment comes as Poland’s aviation sector continues to rebound and expand, with regional airports competing to secure additional low cost capacity. Katowice’s ability to attract a larger based fleet underscores its role as one of the country’s most dynamic secondary airports.
What the new routes mean for Polish travellers
For passengers across southern Poland, the four new routes translate directly into greater choice, more competition and, potentially, sharper fares on key leisure corridors. Malaga and Lamezia Terme strengthen access to the western and southern Mediterranean, complementing existing services from other Polish airports and giving residents of Silesia and neighboring regions the option to start their holidays closer to home.
The Aarhus connection widens options for labour mobility and short business trips within Scandinavia, reflecting ongoing ties between Poland and Denmark in sectors such as construction, manufacturing and services. The twice weekly schedule also lends itself to weekend visits in both directions, supporting cultural and family links.
Meanwhile, Tirana provides a direct bridge to one of Europe’s most talked about emerging destinations, with Albania earning a reputation for attractive pricing and less crowded beaches compared with more traditional Mediterranean hotspots. The new link is likely to stimulate further growth in package holidays and tailor made itineraries that combine the Albanian Riviera with inland excursions.
Travel experts suggest that the added capacity out of Katowice could also have a wider impact on pricing across Poland, as carriers respond to growing competition on routes to Spain, Italy and the Balkans. For now, the focus at Katowice Airport is on preparing infrastructure and services for a busier summer 2026, as the Silesian hub positions itself as a key gateway between Poland and some of Europe’s most in demand holiday regions.