Ryanair Scales Up Croatia for Summer 2026
Ryanair has confirmed its largest ever summer schedule for Croatia, with 118 routes operating across seven airports in 2026. The programme includes two new services from Dubrovnik to Budapest and Gdansk. Capacity will increase by five per cent to 4.3 million seats, supported by more than 850 weekly flights throughout the peak season.
Nine aircraft will be based in Croatia across the airline’s three hubs in Dubrovnik, Zadar and Zagreb. This fleet allocation underpins the full summer network and reflects a continued operational focus on the Croatian market. Ryanair states that its activities in the country will support over 3,500 jobs linked to airport operations, tourism and associated services.
The airline attributes recent growth to competitive airport charges in Croatia, which it says have encouraged airlines to expand capacity. It contrasts this with higher aviation taxes and airport fees in parts of the EU, arguing that such costs can limit traffic recovery and route development. Croatia, by comparison, has remained positioned as a cost-competitive market for summer expansion.
What’s new for summer 2026
- 118 routes across 7 Croatian airports
- Two new routes: Dubrovnik–Budapest and Dubrovnik–Gdansk
- 4.3 million seats available (+5%)
- Over 850 flights per week
- 9 based aircraft in Dubrovnik, Zadar and Zagreb
“As Europe and Croatia’s No.1 airline, Ryanair is pleased to announce our biggest‑ever Croatia Summer schedule, delivering 4.3 million seats (+5% growth), operating 118 routes – including exciting new routes from Dubrovnik to Budapest and Gdansk. This record schedule is underpinned by 9 based aircraft (US$900M investment) across our 3 bases in Dubrovnik, Zadar, and Zagreb, and delivers vital year-round connectivity for Croatia’s citizens and visitors, while supporting over 3,500 jobs."
The expanded schedule brings a wider range of direct services during the peak summer period, particularly via Dubrovnik, Zadar and Zagreb. The addition of Budapest and Gdansk creates new short-break options, while the five per cent rise in capacity to 4.3 million seats should help ease pressure on high-demand Adriatic routes. With more than 850 flights each week, travellers gain broader choice on departure days and timings across the network.
