The announcement was made by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary during a press conference in Warsaw, where he outlined the carrier's vision for increased traffic and passenger numbers in the country.
O'Leary revealed that the airline's summer schedule for 2024 would feature a total of 300 routes from Poland, with the addition of 30 new routes, including destinations such as Alicante, Chania, Corfu, Malta, Palma, Paphos, and Zadar. The focus on sunny resorts aligns with Ryanair's strategy to cater to diverse travel preferences, he said.
The expansion plan involves enhancing routes at Warsaw Chopin Airport and seven other airports across Poland. However, Modlin Airport is set to experience a reduction in routes, losing 15 and facing a 14-percent drop in traffic. O'Leary attributed this decline to increased fees and limitations in Modlin's terminal expansion.
The Ryanair CEO predicted that Modlin would be the only airport in Poland to experience a decline in traffic this year, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Ryanair operates in Poland at 13 airports, serving as a significant player in the country's aviation landscape. According to Poland's Civil Aviation Authority, the airline carried 12.2 million passengers to and from Poland in the first three quarters of 2023.
"We have ambitious plans to double in size in Poland over the next 6-8 years but what we need here is increased infrastructure," O'Leary told reporters in Warsaw on Tuesday, as cited by the Reuters news agency.
(jh/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters