Illustrative photograph (source: TASR - Roman Hanc)
Slovakia will launch a new direct air connection between Bratislava and Košice in late November 2025, reviving a long-discussed route with the help of state subsidies aimed at strengthening east–west transport links and boosting the role of the capital’s airport.
Transport Minister Jozef Ráž announced on Friday that Hungary-based low-cost carrier Wizz Air had won the government tender to operate the service. Flights will run daily, with additional rotations on Mondays and Fridays, using Airbus aircraft.
Departures from Bratislava are scheduled for 06:30 each morning except Sundays, with return flights from Košice at 08:05. On Mondays and Fridays, there will also be afternoon services at 16:20 and 17:55. On Sundays, a single evening rotation will operate, leaving Bratislava at 21:00 and returning from Košice at 22:35.
One-way fares will start at €19.99 excluding luggage, while return tickets will cost just under €40. The ministry has capped the maximum price for a return including baggage at €170. Ráž said passengers would need to arrive only 40 minutes before departure, reflecting the domestic nature of the route.
The state will subsidise the service until at least March 2028, with financial support capped at €5.2m over the period, down from an earlier budget of €9m. The Transport Ministry argued that the subsidy ensures affordability for passengers while covering operating costs in the early years.
The relaunch is expected to improve commuting options and strengthen regional economic ties, particularly in eastern Slovakia, where Volvo is building a new car plant near Košice.
Slovakia has long struggled to maintain a commercially viable domestic link between its two largest cities, which are more than 400km apart by road. Previous attempts collapsed due to weak demand and high costs, but the government argues that the current arrangement better balances the needs of passengers, the state and the airline.
