Its own airport existed, but the choice of destinations was rather modest. Finding a convenient flight was not always possible, and sometimes getting to Schwechat (Vienna airport) was easier than trying to put together a route from Bratislava.
Now the situation is changing very quickly.
In the first seven months of 2026, Bratislava airport has already served about 2.6 million passengers - more than in the entire previous year. In July alone, about 600 thousand people passed through it. And the passenger traffic growth rate is measured in hundreds of percent.
For a small airport, this is not just growth, but practically a transition to a different category.
But for the passenger, something else is more important: a huge number of new direct flights have appeared on the map. You can now fly from Bratislava to major European cities, the Balkans, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and North Africa. Destinations have appeared in literally all directions, and the list continues to change almost every month.
The main heroes of this celebration of life were Ryanair and Wizz Air Both airlines decided to actively develop in Bratislava - and now they have to share the same passengers between them.
On some routes, they fly in parallel. This means they need to offer more flights, a more convenient schedule and, most pleasantly, lower prices.
From the airlines' point of view, this is a struggle for the market. From mine - the opportunity one evening to open the app and find a ticket to another country for 10 euros (no exaggeration, that is exactly how much a Bratislava-Tuzla ticket costs, a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina).
It is clear that the cheapest fares assume traveling light and are not suitable for every date. But even with these restrictions, the opportunity to fly to another country for the price of a regular dinner looks great.
It is especially pleasant that you no longer necessarily have to go to Vienna for this.
It remains a major aviation hub and will be important for long-haul flights and connecting routes for a long time. Although even here Vienna does not always turn out to be the best option in terms of price or schedule.
But in the segment of inexpensive European flights, its advantage no longer seems so obvious. High airport fees force carriers to reduce their presence, and Wizz Air has decided to close its base there altogether. At the same time, Bratislava is moving in the opposite direction: accepting additional aircraft, opening routes, and attracting more and more passengers.
As a result, the familiar pattern is gradually turning upside down. Previously, people went from Bratislava to Vienna because you could fly almost anywhere from there. Now, for many destinations, it is easier to check Bratislava itself first - the flight may turn out to be not only cheaper, but also more convenient.
Of course, there is a downside to such growth. The airport is heavily dependent on two low-cost carriers, which can quickly open a route and just as quickly close it if demand is insufficient. Therefore, today's flight map will surely change many more times.
But right now, a nearly ideal situation has emerged for travelers: two major carriers are fighting for one market, the number of destinations is growing, and with it, tickets at truly low prices are appearing.
When I return to Slovakia, traveling will become noticeably easier. It will be possible to come to Bratislava, go through a small terminal, and in a few hours be somewhere in Italy, Spain, Greece, Morocco, or Azerbaijan.
Bratislava is finally ceasing to be a spare airport next to Vienna and is becoming a full-fledged starting point for travel.
For the city and all of Slovakia, this is great news.
For my bank account - rather worrying.
Because the phrase "it is only 10 euros" sounds like a too-convincing reason to fly somewhere.