Ryanair celebrates the opening of the Trieste base. Abolition of municipal tax promotes growth

Ryanair today (23 April) celebrates the official opening of its new “Gamechanger” base in Trieste – creating up to 600 jobs (including well-paid jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers) and with $100 million in investment new aircraft. Ryanair’s Gamechanger 8-200 aircraft are more environmentally efficient, reducing CO2 emissions by 16% and noise by 40%, whilst carrying 4% more passengers. Ryanair’s 19th Italian base will see the airline operate its largest ever operation to/from Trieste this summer, offering citizens/visitors unbeatable low prices on 18 routes, including 7 new routes to Berlin, Brindisi, Budapest, Krakow , Olbia, Paris and Seville.

The Ryanair operation for the S24 in Trieste will offer:

· Best summer operation ever

· 18 routes (10 international and 8 national)

· 7 new routes after the abolition of municipal tax (Berlin, Brindisi, Budapest, Krakow, Olbia, Paris and Seville)

· 1 new “Gamechanger” B737 8-200 (investment of 100 million dollars in Trieste)

· Supporting over 600 local jobs

· Record connectivity and advantageous rates for FVG

To celebrate the new Trieste base and the new 7 routes for Summer ’24, Ryanair has launched a 3-day promotion with fares starting from €21.99 on sale only on ryanair.com.

From Trieste, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said: “As the No. 1 airline in Europe and Italy, Ryanair is delighted to announce the official opening of its new base in Trieste. Ryanair responded promptly to the FVG region’s initiative to abolish the unjustified municipal/tourist tax by assigning 1 new “Gamechanger” 8-200 aircraft (investment of 100 million dollars). Ryanair’s growth in capacity and 7 new routes (18 total) to Berlin, Brindisi, Budapest, Krakow, Olbia, Paris and Seville from Trieste this summer – will boost the Region’s economic growth with the creation of 600 jobs local jobs.

Ryanair praises President Fedriga’s innovative strategy aimed at abolishing the unjustified municipal/tourist tax in the FVG region. This change will allow the region to support tourism growth, improve connectivity and generate lower rates for citizens and visitors.

All Italian airports will benefit from the massive growth in the following years, if the Italian State eliminated this regressive municipal/tourist tax as demonstrated by the study by the University of Milan (Bicocca) presented in Rome a few weeks ago in which it supported the possibility of obtaining up to 9 million more passengers per year, which would lead to an increase in GDP of 4.2 billion euros and the creation of over 65,000 jobs (link). Should the Italian Government abolish the municipal/tourism tax, Ryanair will respond with a $4 billion investment in Italy, adding 40 new aircraft, 20m additional passengers per year and over 250 new routes, over the next 5 years.

Citizens/visitors of Trieste can now book their low fare flights for Summer ’24 on over 18 routes from just €21.99 on ryanair.com. We look forward to welcoming millions more Italian citizens/visitors on board Ryanair flights to/from Trieste in Summer 24”.

President Fedriga declared: “Trieste Airport is a strategic asset for the development of Friuli Venezia Giulia from an economic and tourism point of view. The partnership with Ryanair is fundamental to continue on this path. The Ronchi airport, thanks to the new connections, will bring greater opportunities to the citizens and businesses of our region. New job, professional and knowledge opportunities. With this historic agreement, Friuli Venezia Giulia – a territory rich in cultural, naturalistic and food and wine excellence in the heart of Europe – will be even more accessible to everyone”.

Marco Consalvo, CEO of Trieste Airport: “The summer flight season, which began on 31 March 2024, started very well and is already recording a positive trend also with regards to the new destinations inaugurated thanks to the opening of the Ryanair base: Berlin, Brindisi , Krakow, Paris, Seville, Olbia. The destination Budapest, departing from 02 June, also has excellent booking levels.

Thanks to this operation with Ryanair, we offer new travel opportunities for residents and incoming tourism is strengthened thanks to connections on new strategic tourist markets for Friuli Venezia Giulia such as the German, Polish, French and Spanish ones”.