Osijek Airport has had a rough 2026, but there is one bright spot on the horizon: Ryanair has confirmed its link to London will operate again next summer.
The catch, as with this year, is the season's brevity. Flights run only from early June to the end of August — a stark contrast to Zagreb, which enjoys daily year-round service to London Stansted. The first Osijek departure of 2027 is set for Wednesday 2 June at a fairly painful 23:25, with the second weekly flight leaving Saturdays at a much friendlier 11:10. Inbound from London, the aircraft departs Wednesdays at 19:35 and Saturdays at 07:20. Fares start at around €55 one way — noticeably pricier than flying out of the capital.
Those summer flights matter for an airport facing a serious dip in traffic. In September 2026 just 3,026 passengers passed through Osijek, down 44.5 percent from the 5,449 recorded the year before, when Ryanair's seasonal route was still running twice weekly through the month. Across the first nine months of 2026 the airport handled 28,605 passengers — a fall of 23.4 percent year on year.
Things get quieter still over winter. Three seasonal PSO (public service obligation) routes are winding down: Trade Air to Zadar, plus Croatia Airlines services to Dubrovnik and Split. Adding to the uncertainty, tickets for the domestic PSO routes are not currently on sale for January 2027, meaning decisions on whether and how they continue are still pending with the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure. For a region that leans on these subsidised connections to reach the rest of Croatia, that's a significant question mark.
There is better news on the infrastructure front. Reconstruction work at Osijek Airport is close to completion, and the 2027 season should begin with a fully renovated passenger terminal. Whether that investment translates into new routes depends on more than the airport itself — local authorities and the ministry all have a role to play.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is straightforward: if you want to reach Slavonia directly from the UK, plan a summer trip. From June to August 2027, Osijek becomes a viable, budget-friendly alternative gateway to eastern Croatia — handy for the baroque streets of Osijek itself, the Kopacki Rit wetlands, or a slow-food tour of a region most visitors to the coast never see. Outside those three months, you'll be routing via Zagreb and continuing overland.
