Ryanair To Open New Airport Base That’s The Gateway To The ‘maldives Of Europe’ – With More Flights From The Uk

RYANAIR’s new European airport base will make it even easier to travel to what has been dubbed the Maldives of Europe.

The budget airline confirmed that they are opening a three-aircraft base at Tirana Airport in Albania.

GettyTirana Airport is to be Ryanair’s latest base[/caption] AlamyThe city is a popular affordable holiday destination[/caption]

From April 2026, 10 new routes will launch from the airport including new flights from Birmingham.

Dublin, Verona, Malta and Milan are among the other routes.

And flights from London will also be increased, with the routes already in operation.

The new additions will mean 450 weekly flights on 33 routes.

Further plans include the addition of three other aircraft at Tirana, taking it to six, with more than five million passengers a year.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said that Ryanair was the only “truly low fare airline” to operate flights to and from Albania.

He added: “Since launching our first Albania flights in Nov 2023, Ryanair has worked closely with our partners in Tirana Airport to deliver ambitious growth, which will now see Ryanair’s traffic grow to over 4m passengers in 2026.”

Tirana Airport’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Piervittorio Farabbi added: “Upon starting the operations in Albania back in November 2023, the Ryanair team came with a slogan of ‘Low Fares Revolution’ in Albania.

“Starting next summer season, there will be much more opportunities to explore the world from Tirana and to expose touristic Albania to more countries.”

Tirana itself is a holiday destination, being a popular city break.

Flights from April 2026 via Birmingham can be found from £50.

Last year, the Albanian Tourist Board revealed more than 8.3million visited the country in 2023, an increase of four million in 2022.

However, also in Albania is Ksamil which has been called the Maldives of Europe thanks to its bright blue waters and overwater beach huts

The beach town is around four hours from Tirana, with the easiest way to get there by driving – public transport can take much longer.

Ksamil has been dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe’Alamy

Jack and Manon Dushku, private tour guides in Albania, told Sun Travel of their top tips.

They said: “The Albanian Riviera in the South of Albania has the most beautiful beaches.

“The highlight is Ksamil Beach, which is a little peninsula with perfect white sands and bright-blue waters, with little islands in front of the beach that you can visit with a canoe or little boat.

“It is like a tropical beach, but in Europe.

Wizz Air is also launching direct flights from London Gatwick to Tirana, later this year.

The new routes will launch from October for just £19.99.

Here is what it is like to live in the Maldives of Europe.

AlamyThe bright blue waters have seen it related to the Maldives[/caption]