Ryanair Expands from Glasgow and Aberdeen

Irish Low Cost Carrier Ryanair has announced its first new route from Glasgow Airport since 2017, with a twice weekly service to Malta. Furthermore, the LLC also announced its first new route from Aberdeen, also owned by AGS, for the first time since 2018.

Ryanair has consistently focused its Scottish growth at Edinburgh Airport, growing from five aircraft in 2017 to 11 aircraft in 2024. Since the last route announcement the airline has closed its Glasgow base, blaming the Scottish Government for failing to replace Air Passenger Duty tax with a cheaper Air Departure Tax.

Below are details of the two new routes announced by the airline, as well as some of my own personal comments.

Aberdeen to Krakow

A new twice weekly service to Krakow will start on April 2nd and will operate every Wednesday and Saturday.

• 0555-0735 FR8843 Krakow to Aberdeen (Wednesday)
• 0800-1140 FR8842 Aberdeen to Krakow (Wednesday)

• 0550-0730 FR8843 Krakow to Aberdeen (Wednesday)
• 0755-1135 FR8842 Aberdeen to Krakow (Wednesday)

This will be the first time Ryanair has ever flown from Aberdeen to Poland, and Krakow will become the second Polish destination served from Aberdeen, with WIZZ Air currently operating up to 4x week to Gdansk.

This takes the number of Ryanair routes from Aberdeen to four, with existing routes to Spain and Portugal returning next summer as well. Flights will be operated by Ryanair’s Polish subsidiary BUZZ.

Separately Ryanair has also announced it will add an additional weekly weekly flight to its popular Faro route, and an additional weekly flight on its popular Málaga route.

Glasgow to Malta

Ryanair also announced a new twice weekly service to Malta will begin on April 1st, and will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

• 1450-1745 FR3744 Malta to Glasgow (Tuesday)
• 1810-2305 FR3743 Glasgow to Malta (Tuesday)

• 0610-0905 FR3744 Malta to Glasgow (Saturday)
• 0930-1425 FR3743 Glasgow to Malta (Saturday)

Ryanair will join Jet2 on this route who also operate 2x week, albeit on different days, taking the total weekly flights between Glasgow and Malta to four.

This takes Ryanair to seven routes at Glasgow, as the airline has also announced its flights to Dublin, Alicante, Malaga, Brussels, Krakow and Wroclaw will all return next summer. It also marks the first time the Malta Air subsidiary will operate regular flights to Glasgow Airport.

Comments From The Airports and Airlines

We’re delighted that Ryanair has chosen to expand its operations here by introducing a new direct route to Malta.

“This addition underscores the airline’s confidence in Glasgow as a gateway for Scottish travellers. It also means more choice for those looking for a sunny escape, whether for a long weekend, a full week’s holiday, or an extended stay.”

This new service is anticipated to carry an additional 20,000 passengers between Glasgow and Malta next summer, providing more options for passengers seeking both flexibility and comfort. The Tuesday and Saturday flight schedules are designed with holidaymakers in mind, offering ideal timings for weekend breaks, week-long stays, or longer getaways.

Christ Tibbett, Aero Director for AGS Airports speaking on the launch of Malta flights from Glasgow

This new route to Krakow is a fantastic addition to our network, and we are delighted that Ryanair has responded to passenger demand by introducing this service.

“Krakow is one of Europe’s most popular city destinations, known for its rich history and vibrant culture. This is great news for our passengers, and with the added bonus of increased frequency on our Faro route, it highlights Ryanair’s commitment to offering expanded options from Aberdeen.”.

Christ Tibbett Aero Directs for AGS Airports speaking on the launch of Krakow flights from Aberdeen

My Personal Comments

These two new routes are welcome additions to their respective airports, and came as a surprise to me when they were announced.

Ryanair has never operated a route from Aberdeen to Poland, and it is great to see the airline responding to strong demand from the North East of Scotland by increasing its routes to 4 for the first time since 2019.

It has also been reported that AGS is talking to the airline about increasing its Alicante route to year round, restoring winter operations with the airline from Aberdeen. I believe that Krakow would also perform well in the winter months thanks to a strong Polish population in the area, as well as serving as a Christmas Market route from Aberdeen.

With regards to the new Malta-Glasgow service this will be welcomed I’m sure by many. Although the route is currently served by Jet2, it is welcome that a new cheaper option has entered the market, and crucially, has elected to operate on separate days, maximising choice for consumers.

The reintroduction of a seventh route from Glasgow is also to be welcomed, and is hopefully the first of many. Ryanair cut its destinations from Glasgow to six at the end of October 2023 after it withdrew its popular Warsaw Modlin service, a route I know would be welcomed back by many.

The airline also continues to offer service from Prestwick and Edinburgh, however, it is a pleasant change the airline chose Aberdeen and Glasgow for new routes. To be clear, this does not mean that Prestwick or Edinburgh will not see any new routes for next summer!

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