Italy Joins UK and Croatia as Ryanair Expands Winter 2026 Routes with Unprecedented Winter Flights to Bari, Bologna, Catania, Liverpool, Manchester, Zagreb and More Unlocking Europe’s Ultimate Travel Adventure

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Ryanair is driving a major winter travel boost from Warsaw by adding new flights that directly connect Poland to Italy, the United Kingdom, and Croatia, giving travelers access to top winter destinations like Bari, Bologna, Catania, Liverpool, Manchester, and Zagreb while making European travel faster and more affordable. This expansion is designed to meet rising demand for low-cost winter travel, enhance Warsaw’s role as a central hub, and provide convenient options for both leisure and business passengers seeking seamless connections across Europe.

Europe’s low-cost travel landscape is set for a major winter transformation as Ryanair unveils its ambitious Winter 2026 schedule, marking a significant expansion from Warsaw Modlin and Warsaw Chopin airports. With new connections to some of Europe’s most sought-after winter destinations, the airline is unlocking unprecedented travel opportunities for both business and leisure passengers. Travelers from Poland and across Europe will now benefit from direct winter flights to Italy, the United Kingdom, Croatia, and beyond, transforming Warsaw into a strategic hub for affordable continental travel.

The expansion introduces 12 new routes across both Warsaw airports, with Ryanair committing two additional aircraft to Warsaw Modlin, increasing the airport’s operational base to eight planes for the winter season. This development reflects a broader European winter network strategy, aiming to capture rising travel demand, support tourism recovery, and provide low-cost alternatives to traditional carriers.

Italy: Bari, Bologna, Catania, Turin, Venice

Italy leads the expansion, with Warsaw Chopin Airport now connected to Bari, Bologna, Catania, Turin, and Venice. These routes provide travelers with direct access to Italy’s key cultural, business, and leisure destinations during the winter months.

• Bari opens doors to Apulia’s stunning Adriatic coastline, historic Old Town, and vibrant culinary scene.
• Bologna, the gastronomic capital of Italy, becomes accessible for winter city breaks and business trips.
• Catania, in Sicily, allows travelers to explore the island’s winter charm, including Mount Etna and coastal attractions.
• Turin, renowned for winter sports and cultural heritage, offers strategic connectivity to Northern Italy.
• Venice maintains its allure even in winter, with quieter canals and seasonal festivals appealing to tourists seeking authentic experiences.

These Italian routes reflect Ryanair’s focus on combining low-cost fares with high-demand destinations, making winter European travel both affordable and convenient.

United Kingdom: Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol

From Warsaw Chopin and Modlin, Ryanair now flies to multiple UK cities, expanding accessibility and meeting growing demand from business and leisure travelers.

• Liverpool: Known for its cultural heritage and music scene, Liverpool attracts both tourism and conference traffic.
• Manchester: As a key northern UK hub, it offers access to sports, industry, and cultural attractions.
• Bristol: Positioned as a gateway to the southwest, Bristol connects travelers to regional events and educational hubs.

These new UK routes are strategically timed to capture winter business travel, holiday bookings, and cultural tourism, providing travelers with flexible options outside the peak summer season.

Croatia: Zagreb

Ryanair introduces direct flights from Warsaw to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, further integrating Eastern Europe into its winter network.

Zagreb provides access to the Adriatic coast and winter ski resorts, supporting both leisure tourism and short-term business travel. By connecting Poland directly to Croatia, Ryanair enhances cross-border mobility, enabling travelers to explore new winter destinations conveniently and cost-effectively.

Warsaw Modlin Airport: Base Expansion

Warsaw Modlin Airport, traditionally Ryanair’s main Polish hub, sees a major winter expansion:

• Two new aircraft based at Modlin, increasing the total fleet to eight for Winter 2026.
• Five new destinations: Bratislava (Slovakia), Bristol (UK), Manchester (UK), Shannon (Ireland), and Zagreb (Croatia).
• Passenger traffic projected to over 3.2 million, more than double last winter.

This expansion demonstrates Ryanair’s commitment to strengthening Eastern European connectivity, supporting tourism growth, and generating economic benefits through job creation in aviation, airport operations, and ancillary services.

Warsaw Chopin Airport: New Routes

Ryanair’s presence at Warsaw Chopin Airport is also growing, with seven new routes connecting Poland to key Italian and UK destinations:

• Bari, Bologna, Catania, Liverpool, Naples, Turin, and Venice.
• Forecasted passenger traffic over 800,000 annually, representing 50% growth from last winter.
• These flights attract winter tourists, business travelers, and students, creating a diverse seasonal passenger base.

The Chopin expansion strategically positions Ryanair alongside legacy carriers, offering low-cost alternatives in the capital’s main international airport.

Strategic Economic Impacts

Ryanair’s Winter 2026 expansion generates multiple economic benefits for Poland and connected countries:

1. Job creation: Thousands of jobs supported, including 240 new positions for pilots and cabin crew.
2. Tourism growth: Easier access to Italy, the UK, and Croatia boosts winter tourism, particularly in cultural cities and ski resorts.
3. Regional connectivity: Warsaw becomes a central hub for affordable winter European travel.
4. Business travel support: Routes align with corporate demand, conference schedules, and trade connections across Europe.

The airline’s investment in both Modlin and Chopin airports strengthens Warsaw’s position as a gateway city connecting Eastern Europe to Western Europe.

Other Countries Connected Indirectly

While the headline highlights Italy, UK, and Croatia, Ryanair’s expanded Warsaw network also indirectly supports travel to:

• Slovakia: Bratislava flights from Modlin connect Polish travelers to Central Europe.
• Ireland: Shannon routes allow winter leisure travel and student mobility.
• Germany, France, Spain: Indirectly accessible via connections through Italian and UK cities.

This broad network demonstrates Ryanair’s pan-European winter strategy, enhancing low-cost travel across multiple nations.

Passenger Experience and Travel Benefits

• Affordable fares: Ryanair’s winter expansion ensures competitive low-cost options.
• Convenient scheduling: Flights scheduled to meet both leisure and business travel needs.
• Winter accessibility: Direct connections reduce travel time and reliance on multiple airlines.
• Enhanced connectivity: Warsaw passengers can now reach more European cities without detours, maximizing travel efficiency.

For travelers planning winter breaks, city escapes, or business trips, this network offers unparalleled options at minimal cost.

Ryanair’s Strategic Vision

• Expanding Warsaw bases reflects a long-term commitment to Central and Eastern Europe.
• Investment in aircraft, routes, and jobs ensures sustainable growth even during low-season months.
• Focus on Italy, UK, and Croatia demonstrates demand-driven route selection, prioritizing high-volume leisure and business corridors.

Ryanair continues to adapt to seasonal trends, offering winter travelers more choices than ever before.

Winter 2026 Travel Outlook

• Dates: Late October 2026 to March 2027.
• Destinations: Italy (Bari, Bologna, Catania, Turin, Venice, Naples), UK (Liverpool, Manchester, Bristol), Croatia (Zagreb), Slovakia (Bratislava), Ireland (Shannon).
• Passenger forecast: Modlin over 3.2 million; Chopin over 800,000.
• Economic impact: Thousands of jobs, tourism growth, regional connectivity.

Ryanair’s winter network empowers Poland’s travelers and Europe’s tourists, offering flexibility, affordability, and convenience across multiple countries.

The Italy, UK, and Croatia-focused expansion highlights Ryanair’s Winter 2026 commitment to accessible, low-cost, high-connectivity European travel. Warsaw emerges as a central hub, linking Eastern and Western Europe while driving economic benefits, tourism growth, and passenger choice. With new winter flights to Bari, Bologna, Catania, Liverpool, Manchester, Zagreb, and more, Ryanair is not only transforming Poland’s aviation landscape but also unlocking Europe’s ultimate winter travel opportunities.

Ryanair is expanding its Winter 2026 network from Warsaw with new flights to Italy, the UK, and Croatia, providing direct access to Bari, Bologna, Catania, Liverpool, Manchester, and Zagreb to meet growing winter travel demand.

Travelers planning winter trips can now enjoy direct flights to major cultural, leisure, and business destinations, all at low cost and high convenience, making Europe more accessible than ever before.