The square in front of the “Tito Minniti” is in motion: people with luggage on the sidewalks waiting their turn to take a taxi, shuttles stopped waiting, municipal police busy regulating traffic in front of the gate and the car park almost full. We couldn’t have expected anything better for Ryanair’s landing in Reggio Calabria. Everyone seems happy: travellers, economic operators in the terminal and those associated with it.
Yesterday morning at 6.15am the first flight of the Irish low cost airline to Bologna took off. The other departures of the new era, again yesterday, were scheduled at 10.25am for Venice and 3.15pm for Turin. Arrivals scheduled, however, at 10am from Bologna, at 2.25pm from Venice and at 7.45pm from Turin. Upon exiting the flight to Venice and boarding the one to Turin, travelers (Calabrian and otherwise) were enthusiastic about the new routes. Passengers waiting in line at the Ryanair check-in box in the early afternoon were headed to Turin, one of the new destinations.
«I’m going to Turin – says one of the passengers who walks briskly towards the checks before boarding -. I am very happy with these new connections for Reggio and Calabria.” A girl from Reggio Calabria who lives in the Piedmontese capital thinks the same way. «It’s a nice opportunity to leave from Reggio – she says – without having to travel to Lamezia. It saves an hour and a half and additional expense for citizens. And in any case it is also a good opportunity for the city.” The same enthusiasm shown by travelers arriving on the 2.15pm flight from Venice. “It has been a nice trip. I am originally from Campo Calabro, but I live in the province of Treviso. It’s a connection that people have been waiting for because it’s very functional. Today the plane was full.”
While passengers continue to leave the arrivals gate we meet a boy who lives in Venice. «It’s a great opportunity – he declares – because when there is a connection it’s always a positive thing. We hope that this connection can also mean an exchange on an economic level.” Among the many Calabrians who have taken advantage of the new connection from Venice there is also a girl who leaves the gate smiling with her mother: «Finally we can return home with a direct flight, I always had to make a huge effort to return, but now I can do it without problems.” But there are not only Calabrians returning home on the flight from Venice. An elderly couple are waiting for the car they rented to arrive. «We took advantage of the direct flight to go to the Aeolian Islands – explains the husband -. We will spend a day in the city, we will go to see the museum and the Bronzes and then we will leave tomorrow morning. It is the first time we visit Reggio Calabria, we are very happy.” And the few commercial operators who are currently present in the terminal are also happy. Among these, for example, the two car rental agencies. «The change of pace is evident – declares a young man who works in one of these -. Compared to the recent past we have recorded a surge of around 70% in bookings, not only today but also for the next few days.” The feeling is the same in the only bar inside the terminal. «We will soon open a second point on the lower floor – explains one of the two bartenders -. We have been working at a good pace since this morning.”
In the morning, the president of Sacal Marco Franchini was present at the Ryanair landing party. «Ryanair’s strategic choice – she explained – is crucial for identifying a series of destinations which, thanks to the company’s ability to develop 360-degree marketing, can guarantee very high load factors. And, therefore, increase the airport’s traffic, which I hope will double from next year, up to the 700 thousand passengers that we need to bring into balance an airport which at the moment does not have a satisfactory balance from a economic point of view”. In short, there is still work to be done, but the beginning seems promising. As confirmed by the “Star-bus” company, which has established a coach connection upon reservation from Messina. «Compared to other days – they replied – there was a greater response. We were present for all the flights.”
From today, however, we begin with the international routes: Ryanair will fly from the Strait airport “Tito Minniti” to Marseille (at 4.20pm) and Barcelona (10.20am). For Berlin we start from April 28th (6.15pm), the same date for Manchester (6am) and the day before (the 27th) for Tirana (7.55pm). The relaunch of the Reggio terminal is a bet that the Calabria Region, the city and the president of Sacal Franchini intend to win. Meanwhile, as the manager explained, starting the renovation of the terminal: «Because this is the entrance door to the region and it must be, also from an architectural point of view, of great value». And then also the connections that will allow you to reach the airport more easily and quickly.
«The basin offered by Messina is certainly an opportunity that we look at with great interest. We are making agreements with Liberty lines and with Caronte to facilitate rates and parking. An agreement that could increase the incoming of passengers who live just 20 minutes away and who can use our airport. I perceived great attention towards our proposals.”
Franchini underlined the feeling that binds him to the President of the Region Roberto Occhiuto. “The governor believes a lot in what we do and we absolutely want to repay him with maximum commitment.”
And speaking of Occhiuto, we are also looking with interest at the agreement announced by the governor of the Calabria region with Uber, following a meeting in Rome with Tony West, global vice president of the company.
