Ryanair opens base in Dubrovnik and to connect 18 European destinations 

Ryanair opening Dubrovnik base

Ryanair, Europe’s leading airline and Croatia’s largest carrier, has unveiled plans for a significant expansion with the establishment of a new base at Dubrovnik Airport, set to commence operations in April 2024. 

This strategic move, marking Ryanair’s third base in Croatia, involves an investment of $200 million, bringing in two state-of-the-art “Gamechanger” Boeing 8-200 aircraft and generating up to 500 local jobs, including 60 high-paying positions for pilots and cabin crew.

The expansion aims to strengthen Ryanair’s presence in Croatia, supplementing its longstanding base in Zadar and the recently inaugurated base in Zagreb. 

The Summer 2024 schedule for Dubrovnik will feature 18 routes, including 16 new connections to major cities such as Berlin, Brussels, Helsinki, London, Milan, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, and Wroclaw. Additionally, frequencies on popular routes to Dublin and Vienna will be increased.

Key highlights of Ryanair’s Summer 2024 Dubrovnik schedule include the deployment of two “Gamechanger” Boeing 8-200 aircraft, representing a $200 million investment in Dubrovnik. 

These aircraft offer a notable 4% increase in capacity, accompanied by a remarkable 16% reduction in fuel consumption and a 40% decrease in noise emissions. The expanded network is expected to cater to over 600,000 passengers within the first 12 months.

Having invested over $800 million in the country since the onset of the pandemic, Ryanair has opened bases in Dubrovnik, Zagreb, and Zadar, in addition to serving four other Croatian airports – Osijek, Pula, Rijeka and Split.

Ryanair aims to increase its traffic to approximately 4 million annual passengers in Croatia, marking a remarkable 450% increase compared to pre-Covid levels. This growth is in line with Ryanair’s broader plans to reach 300 million passengers per annum by 2034, facilitated by the delivery of an additional 400 aircraft, including 300 Boeing MAX-10 aircraft.

To celebrate the launch of its Summer 2024 base in Dubrovnik, Ryanair is offering one-way fares starting at €29.99, exclusively available through the airline’s app and website.

Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, expressed enthusiasm for the new base, emphasizing the significant investment in Croatia and the creation of high-paying jobs. McGuinness highlighted the airline’s commitment to supporting Croatia’s post-Covid recovery and delivering affordable travel options.

Viktor Šober, CEO of Dubrovnik Airport, now officially named Ruđer Bošković Airport, praised the partnership with Ryanair, anticipating improved connectivity, increased summer and winter routes, and the overall development of Dubrovnik as a premier tourist and city break destination.

(Ryanair)