Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced the addition of a ninth aircraft in Malta for Summer 2026, and launched four new routes to Gothenburg, Newcastle, Palma and Tirana, as the airline projected a 20% increase in passenger traffic to six million in 2026, as part of a $900 million investment in its Maltese operations.

CEO of the airline Michael O'Leary said Wednesday that Ryanair would maintain its ninth Malta-based aircraft for Winter 2025 into Summer 2026, describing the move as the airline's "biggest and best ever" summer schedule for the island.

O'Leary said that the move formed part of a $900 million investment and would see four new routes launched to Gothenburg, Newcastle, Palma and Tirana, bringing its total Malta network to 70 routes.

The expanded Summer 2026 schedule is expected to increase Ryanair's Malta traffic by 20% to six million passengers in 2026, up from five million last year, he said.

O'Leary said the airline was now "three to four times larger" than KM Malta Airlines in terms of passenger numbers and routes, noting that Ryanair would operate 70 routes compared to KM's 16.

"This growth will deliver more than any other airline," he said, adding that the airline had also expanded its offices in Pietà and invested in a maintenance hangar facility.

O'Leary said the expanded schedule would support more than 4,700 - and up to 5,000 - jobs in Malta, including 30 new high-paid jobs for pilots and cabin crew.

O'Leary thanked the Maltese government and Deputy CEO of the Malta Tourism Authority Leslie Vella for their continued support, saying Malta had become "a huge centre of investment and commitment" for the airline.

Malta Air and Lauda Europe CEO David O'Brien spoke of the shift in tourism patterns over the past two decades, noting that Malta had previously been highly seasonal and dependent on charter flights.

He said the increase in direct routes was encouraging shorter stays of three to four days, particularly city-break visitors from European markets.

"These shorter stays place less pressure on the system, with visitors spending more over a shorter period," O'Brien said.

O'Leary added that hotel room rates were rising rapidly in the off-peak winter months, which he attributed to Ryanair's strategy of driving direct connectivity from multiple European points, generating weekend and short-break travel.

Addressing fare levels, O'Leary said Ryanair had recovered from a 7% fare decline last year, with summer fares expected to rise by 2% to 3% overall, although fuel costs were falling.

He said Malta would outperform the airline's broader European growth, with total group traffic expected to increase, targeting 216 million passengers this year.

By contrast, Malta traffic would grow by 20%, with fares expected to remain flat or decrease slightly by 2% to 3%.

"If Europe wants to remain competitive, it needs more low-cost air transport," he said.

To mark the announcement, Ryanair launched a seat sale with fares from €29.99, available for booking until 14 February for travel up to 25 October via the Ryanair app.

O'Leary also addressed questions on recent developments, including a Belgian court ruling concerning certain booking practices.

He said the ruling had been broadly favourable to Ryanair, though the airline would amend its "five seats left" messaging. A question of charges related to second carry-on and checked-in baggage were ruled in favour of the airline.

On disruptive passenger behaviour, O'Leary said all European airlines were facing increasing incidents of passenger violence, often linked to alcohol consumption at airports.

"We are diverting probably one aircraft a week," he said, adding that crew were highly trained but that greater responsibility was needed from airports.

He suggested restrictions on alcohol sales in airports, and criticised early-morning bar openings on busy travel days.

O'Leary said that while KM Malta Airlines operated from primary airports, its scale limited its growth potential.

"I think KM is a good airline, but it doesn't make much money as it is too small," he said, arguing that Ryanair operated in a different league.

O'Leary said that he predicted that Europe's aviation market would consolidate around four large airline groups over the next decade, naming Lufthansa Group, IAG (International Airlines Group), which is the holding company for British Airways, Air France-KLM, and Ryanair among them.

Ryanair's Malta Summer 2026 schedule will deliver nine based aircrafts with a $900m investment, 70 routes, four of them new (Gothenburg, Newcastle, Palma & Tirana), traffic growth to 6 million passengers (+20% growth), increased frequency on over 40 routes, including Milan, Vienna, London, Krakow, Zagreb, Madrid, Dublin and Bratislava, offer over 4,700 jobs in Malta, and unbeatable low-fare choice for Maltese