According to aviation.direct, MR Štefánik Airport has posted the strongest financial and operational performance in its history, capping off 2025 with passenger numbers that match its all-time record and signal a new growth phase for Slovakia’s main aviation gateway.
A total of 2,438,215 passengers passed through Bratislava Airport last year, representing a 25 percent increase year-on-year and an uplift of more than 490,000 travelers compared with 2024. The surge was driven by an unprecedented expansion of scheduled services and a strategic strengthening of operations by key airline partners.
The result was a run of eight consecutive months of record traffic, underscoring the scale and consistency of the growth. With further capacity increases already announced for 2026 by major carriers, airport management says the upward trajectory is set to continue, with the ambitious goal of reaching four million passengers annually now firmly in sight.
Wizz Air and Ryanair reshape the market
At the heart of the airport’s turnaround was the opening of Wizz Air’s new base on 14 November 2025. The Hungarian low-cost carrier rapidly scaled up its presence, expanding from just two routes to 16 within a single year. Four Airbus A321neo aircraft were permanently based in Bratislava, significantly boosting capacity and frequency.
One of the most symbolic outcomes of this expansion was the return of domestic air services. After a decade-long break, flights between Bratislava and Košice resumed at the end of November, operating nine times per week and restoring a fast east–west air link within Slovakia.
Ryanair, Bratislava’s long-standing largest airline partner, also stepped up its commitment. In October 2025, the Irish carrier stationed a third aircraft at the airport, allowing for higher frequencies on core routes and the launch of additional destinations. Ryanair retained its position as the airport’s leading airline, followed by Smartwings and Wizz Air. Seasonal services by Norwegian to Copenhagen and Arkia Israeli Airlines to Tel Aviv further broadened the route portfolio.
City breaks, leisure routes, and charter growth
European metropolitan and economic hubs dominated scheduled traffic. London—served via Luton and Stansted—and Milan, with flights to Bergamo and Malpensa, ranked among the busiest routes. Strong demand was also recorded on services to Manchester, Dublin, and Malta.
During the summer season, passengers could choose from 39 scheduled routes, while the winter timetable of 2025/2026 set a new benchmark with 49 regular connections, reflecting growing year-round demand.
The charter segment proved equally dynamic. Established holiday favorites such as Antalya and Hurghada remained at the top, while Marsa Matruh emerged as a breakout destination, entering the airport’s top five leisure routes for the first time. Winter long-haul services to Salalah, Phuket, and Mauritius also attracted strong interest.
To accommodate demand on these routes, airlines increasingly deployed Code E widebody aircraft, including the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and the Airbus A330, leveraging their higher seating capacity to serve the growing appetite for long-distance leisure travel.
With airlines continuing to invest and passenger confidence firmly restored, Bratislava Airport appears poised to build on its record-breaking year and consolidate its role as a rising Central European aviation hub.