For an airline that has spent much of the year making headlines for cutting flights, Ryanair is suddenly talking about growth again. The low cost carrier has launched 15 new routes across Europe this month, opening new connections between cities in Spain, Italy, Poland, Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and Romania. The announcement comes just weeks after Ryanair confirmed reductions at a number of airports across Europe, including locations in the UK, Ireland, France and Spain. Those cuts sparked concern among local tourism industries and travellers
who suddenly found fewer flights available than expected. Now, however, the airline is highlighting a different story. Instead of focusing on the airports where services are being reduced, Ryanair is pointing towards destinations where its network is getting bigger. For travellers looking ahead to summer holidays, city breaks or visits to friends and family, the new routes create fresh options across the continent, including a new direct connection between Manchester and Spain’s Castellón. The 15 new Ryanair routes now operating across Europe The routes officially
launched on 1 and 2 June and connect a mix of established cities and lesser known destinations. The full list includes: Bologna to Castellón Forli to Cagliari Parma to Reggio Calabria Rimini to Cologne Bonn Rimini to Catania Manchester to Castellón Gdańsk to Bucharest Gdańsk to Palermo Katowice to Aarhus Katowice to Lamezia Terme Tirana to Alghero Tirana to Genoa Tirana to Parma Tirana to Wroclaw Zadar to Cork What’s striking about the list is that it doesn’t revolve around Ryanair’s biggest bases. Airports such
as London Stansted, Dublin, Milan Bergamo, Brussels Charleroi and Barcelona remain among the airline’s busiest hubs, yet none of the newly launched routes originate from those locations. Instead, Ryanair appears to be focusing on regional airports and destinations that often receive less attention from international travellers. It’s a strategy that has become increasingly common among European airlines as competition intensifies on major routes and smaller airports look for ways to attract more passengers. Why Castellón is attracting attention again Among the new routes, Manchester to
Castellón is likely to attract particular interest from British travellers. While millions of visitors head to Spain every year, Castellón remains far less famous than destinations such as Alicante, Málaga or Mallorca. Situated on the Mediterranean coast north of Valencia, the province is known for its beaches, seaside towns and historic landmarks, yet it has largely avoided the levels of international tourism seen elsewhere along Spain’s coastline. The airport itself has an unusual history. When Castellón Airport opened in 2011, it became internationally famous for
operating without commercial flights for several years. Critics quickly labelled it a “ghost airport” and it became a symbol of expensive infrastructure projects that struggled to attract demand. That changed in 2015 when Ryanair launched the airport’s first commercial services. More than a decade later, the carrier remains one of its most important airline partners. The addition of Manchester follows other recent expansions at the airport, including new links with Bologna and a route from Essex introduced earlier this year. For local tourism officials, every
new connection means access to new markets and potentially thousands of additional visitors. A sign of how travel demand is changing The launch of 15 new routes also reflects broader changes in how people travel around Europe. Many passengers are increasingly looking beyond traditional tourist hotspots. Popular destinations remain busy, but travellers are showing growing interest in secondary cities, smaller airports and places that offer a different experience from Europe’s most crowded destinations. That’s particularly noticeable in countries such as Spain and Italy, where lesser
known regions are receiving more attention than they did a decade ago. Airlines have responded by experimenting with routes that would once have been considered niche. Some will prove successful. Others may disappear after a season or two. That’s the reality of the low cost airline business. For now, however, Ryanair clearly believes there is demand for these connections. Whether passengers agree will become clearer as the summer season unfolds. Q&A section How many new routes has Ryanair launched? Ryanair launched 15 new routes across
Europe on 1 and 2 June. Which countries are involved? The routes connect destinations in Spain, Italy, Poland, Albania, Croatia, Denmark, Germany and Romania. What is the new UK route? The new UK route is Manchester to Castellón in Spain. Why is Castellón attracting attention? Castellón offers Mediterranean beaches and historic towns while remaining less crowded than many of Spain’s most popular tourist destinations. Are the new routes operating from Ryanair’s biggest hubs? No. None of the 15 new routes involve some of Ryanair’s busiest
bases such as London Stansted, Dublin or Barcelona. Will these routes operate year round? Ryanair has launched the routes for summer 2026, but future operations will depend on passenger demand and commercial performance.
Ryanair, 15 new routes, summer 2026, Manchester Castellón, Bologna Castellón, Forli Cagliari, travel Europe