Summer vacation, has the expensive flights already kicked in for Sardinia and Sicily? Milanese stung more than Romans

In July last year, the expensive-flights case broke out.. It had happened that, after two of losses (those in 2020 and 2021) and a third up but under a condition of uncertainty related to the so-called Covid variants that had affected bookings in early 2022, in the run-up to summer and with the pandemic now definitely behind us, everyone had launched into booking vacations and flights. As, if not more, than the years up to 2019.

Dear tickets, the causes

With the companies still not quite ready for the demand boom (fleets during and after the pandemic had been downsized, some redundant staff removed) there occurred the classic case of skyrocketing demand meeting a quantitatively mismatched supply. And the companies, in a market, which let us remember, is free (except for the cases of flights subsidized by state aid to ensure territorial continuity) had taken advantage of it, partly in an attempt to come back from the very heavy losses accumulated in the 2020-202 biennium1, only partly contained through state aid (where it had been granted).

Now, that last summer's prices had something crazy compared to those of the last 'normal' summer season, that of 2019, no one can deny. But it must be remembered that companies are free to charge the prices they want.

Because controversy dies hard in Italy, in early September (so with the 'summer' in fact already over), the government had issued a decree with which prevented companies from charging prices on domestic flights and to the islands (Sicily and Sardinia) that went beyond 200% of the average fare for those connectionsi. To say, if a Milan-Cagliari costs an average of 100 euros, the maximum price applicable to that same route cannot be more than 200 euros. The measure sparked vibrant protests from carriers and Ryanair in particular, which last fall announced a major cut in frequencies to and from some of Sardinia's cities.

Summer vacation 2024, how much airline tickets cost

Nine months after the case broke out, and at a time like March-April when usually those planning to go on vacation in July and August book precisely to avoid subsequent ticket increases, The Flight Club conducted a survey of airline prices in the high summer season from Milan and Rome to airports on the two major islands: Catania, Palermo, Comiso and Trapani in Sicily and Cagliari, Alghero and Olbia in Sardinia.

Discovering basically two things: tariffe already high for the period between the end of July and the first half of August; And much higher prices charged to those departing from Milan than those imposed on those departing from Rome, with a gap between fares that cannot be justified by that scant half hour extra flight time that (in some but not all cases) flying from Milan requires rather than flying from Rome. To the point of suggesting that those leaving from Milan are actually being stung by the airlines.

The survey was conducted in the middle of April 2023 using Google Flights, which is probably the most widely used search engine for people who want to know the prices for flying from point 'A' to point 'B.' And which also allows one to observe the fluctuation of ticket prices through the weeks on a given route.

Departing from the capital heading for the major islands, the most 'cheap' route is Rome-Catania, which in May costs (one way) between 15 and 39 euros, in June between 17 and 34 euros, in July between 25 and 75 euros, and in August between 28 and 40 euros. This is thanks to as many as 23 daily connections operated at the August peak by ITA Airways (12), Ryanair (8) and Aeroitalia (3). The highest spending day in August is. Saturday 10, when Ryanair flies from Rome Fiumicino to Catania Fontanarossa for 40 euros.

About Comiso the 'hottest' day is Monday, August 12, when the only flight, operated by Aeroitalia, buys itself from 60 euros. From Rome to Palermo the peak fare is August 9, when with Aeroitalia you spend 55 euros per person one way. There are as many as 21 daily flights, and ITA itself, which operates 11, starts at 107 euros. On Trapani, finally the August peak is on Friday the 9th when no less than 100 euros is spent with the only carrier on the route, Ryanair.

Flying to Sardinia costs more: about Cagliari you will find a Ciampino-Elmas with Wizz Air at 106 euro for the single route on Saturday, August 10. While from Fiumicino, If they spend 129 with ITA, which operates the route in an apparent monopoly. About Alghero, Saturday August 3 is the most expensive day to go to Alghero: with Aeroitalia from Fiumicino (there are no connections from Ciampino) you spend at least 110 euro. Saturday August 3 to 31 are the two 'hottest' days for Olbia, and it is still Aeroitalia that offers the cheapest fare at 94 and 119 euros, respectively. Wizz Air from Ciampino on the 3rd departs from. 160 euro for one-way. Volotea is the stuff of the rich, with the 4 Fiumicino-Costa Smeralda starting at 339 euros (one way!).

Also between Milan and Catania, in August, there are many direct flights: 21 on Saturday, Aug. 3, and 24 on Sunday, Aug. 4: but here the 'many frequencies' effect does not apply as it does in Rome: on the 3rd you spend not less than 90 euros with Wizz Air from Malpensa and on the 4th not less than 128 euros With Ryanair always from Malpensa. Skyrocketing prices also for Trapani, where the only carrier Ryanair is asking for. a minimum of 190 euros August 3, 144 euros on August 4 and 181 euros on August 10. All one-way, of course. About Comiso the cost of flights goes down a bit, with Aeroitalia asking for 122 euros to fly on Saturday, August 3, and 113 euros for Sunday, August 4. More expensive Palermo: despite 16 flights on Saturday, Aug. 3, and 18 on Sunday, Aug. 4, we spend not less than 141 euros with ITA in the first case from Linate and not less than 103 with Ryanair in the second from Malpensa.

Turning to Sardinia and always taking the most expensive days in August as a reference, From Milan we fly to Cagliari saturday 3 with easyjet for 115 euros (from Malpensa), Sunday 4 for 109 euros always with easyjet and Monday, August 5 for 146 euros with ITA. On those days Milan-Cagliari are 13, 15 and 11 per day respectively. Alghero is a bit more low-cost: you spend 120 euro Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 always with Aeroitalia from Linate and 111 euro Sunday, August 11, with Ryanair from Malpensa. Olbia, on the other hand, is the goose that lays the golden eggs.: Saturday 3, with 14 flights available, you can't find nothing less than 141 euros (easyjet from Malpensa), with Neos going as high as 230.

• dear flights
• sardinia
• sicily