Irish airline Ryanair is preparing to reduce the number of flights during the upcoming winter season due to a sharp increase in fuel prices. Less profitable routes across Europe will be affected, including some flights from Bratislava Airport.
Fuel Prices
Ryanair has already revised its passenger traffic forecast for 2027. Instead of the previously expected 216 million passengers, the company now expects to carry around 214 million.
One of the main reasons for the cuts is the rise in aviation fuel prices. Ryanair has hedged around 80% of the aviation fuel it will need through March 2027 at approximately $67 per barrel. However, this price was fixed before the conflict with Iran began.
The remaining 20% of the airline’s fuel must be purchased at current market prices, which are now around $140 per barrel. Ryanair believes that cutting its least profitable routes under these conditions will help limit financial losses during the winter period, from November to March. The company estimates that the decision will reduce winter losses by €70–100 million.
Nevertheless, despite an expected stagnation in passenger traffic between November 2026 and March 2027, Ryanair expects to finish the year in profit. However, that profit is likely to be lower than the previous year’s figure.
What to Expect in Bratislava
Ryanair has not yet disclosed the full list of routes that will be cut. However, some changes are already visible in booking systems.
- From the end of October, it will no longer be possible to book regular winter flights from Bratislava to Edinburgh and Dalaman. Last winter, Ryanair operated two flights a week to Edinburgh and one flight a week to Dalaman.
- Two other destinations — Gdańsk and Leeds — will also not be served during the winter. However, these routes were also absent from last year’s winter schedule, so they are expected to return at the start of the summer season in late March.
- As usual, seasonal flights to popular summer resorts — Burgas, Alghero, Corfu, Skiathos and Zadar — will also be suspended for the winter.
- At the same time, Ryanair’s winter schedule from Bratislava will gain a new destination — Agadir. Year-round services will continue on routes including Barcelona, Alicante, Bari, Palermo, Rome and Athens, along with a number of other destinations.
- Pisa is also absent from the winter schedule. Ryanair launched this route at the end of March 2026.
Not all changes to Bratislava Airport’s schedule will be related to decisions by the airline.
For example, flights from Bratislava to Naples are absent from the booking system throughout November. The reason is reconstruction work on the runway at Naples Airport, which will be closed throughout November.
Passengers planning trips to Eindhoven will also face disruptions. From 1 February, the city’s airport will begin a major reconstruction project and will not accept flights until July.
