Ryanair 7 new routes from Rome to Europe, O'Leary against Italian government: 'This decree is illegal'
Ryanair has announced news for winter 23/24 from Rome airports (Ciampino and Fiumicino) where 2 new [...]
Ryanair
FCO
Ryanair has announced news for winter 23/24 from Rome airports (Ciampino and Fiumicino) where 2 new planes will be based.
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A total of 64 routes will be served, including. 7 new to East Midlands (UK), Gdansk, Memmingen, Poznan, Riga, Tirana and Wroclaw, as well as increased frequencies on 20 other routes. Ryanair will base 2 new B737 aircraft at Rome Fiumicino for winter 23/24: an additional $200 million investment in Rome, creating over 60 new well-paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers.
Winter 23/24 operations on Rome include:
- 2 new B737-based aircraft (15 in total, for an investment of $1.5 billion in Rome)
- 64 routes, 7 new: East Midlands, Gdansk, Memmingen, Poznan, Riga, Tirana and Wroclaw
- Increased frequencies on 20 international routes including Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid and Malta
Ryanair is the No. 1 airline in Rome: it operates 64 routes and Carries 10 million passengers a year to/from the Capital's two airports,
Speaking in Rome, Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said:
"Ryanair is pleased to add 2 new aircraft, at an investment of $200 million, to Rome for winter 23/24, with an operating schedule of 64 routes, including 7 new ones to the East Midlands, Gdansk, Memmingen, Poznan, Riga, Tirana and Wroclaw, as well as increased frequencies on 20 other international routes, including popular destinations such as Barcelona, Berlin, Madrid, Malta and Prague. To support this growing winter operation, we based 2 new aircraft at Fiumicino, bringing the number of aircraft in Rome to 15 ($1.5 billion investment), creating over 60 new well-paid jobs. As we increase international routes to/from Milan this winter, Italy's domestic growth is jeopardized by the government's illegal decree restricting airlines' freedom to set low airfares. European law guarantees airlines the freedom to set prices lower or higher, and no Italian decree can restrict this legislation.
This illegal decree will hurt Italy's domestic traffic because it will encourage airlines, such as Ryanair, to reduce flights/capacity on domestic routes (which are subject to the decree) and transfer flights/capacity to international routes to/from Milan and Rome where it is still possible to set prices freely. This decree will only bring fewer flights and higher fares to Sardinia and Sicily.
Italy, its Islands and its Regions have been among the biggest beneficiaries of Ryanair's growth and low fares, and unfortunately this stupid and illegal decree, based on ENAC's false and inaccurate advice, will have the opposite effect by reducing capacity and increasing fares for Sardinia and Sicily, until it is annulled by the European Courts."
