Slovakia will launch a new direct air connection between Bratislava and Kosice in late November, 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 Raz announced on August 22 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 for Sundays, with return flights from Kosice 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 Kosice at 22:35.
One-way fares will start at EUR 19.99 excluding luggage, while return tickets will cost just under EUR 40. The ministry has capped the maximum price for a return including baggage at EUR 170. Raz 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 EUR 5.2 million over the period, down from an earlier budget of EUR 9 million. 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 Kosice.
Slovakia has long struggled to maintain a commercially viable domestic link between its two largest cities, which are more than 400 km 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. (The Slovak Spectator)