Ryanair doubles at Reggio Calabria airport: 8 new routes. Occhiuto: «I asked you to evaluate the possibility of adding a route to Milan or Bergamo».
REGGIO CALABRIA – The opening of the new Ryanair base was inaugurated in Reggio Calabria. «An investment of 100 million dollars in Reggio Calabria and the exciting summer operation boasting 8 brand new routes: Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Manchester, Marseille, Tirana, Turin and Venice». Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson thus announced Ryanair’s new routes to and from Reggio.
Only a short time has passed since the launch of Ryanair’s new connections to and from the Strait of Reggio Calabria Airport and it is already time to take stock. «Today Reggio Calabria is a hub of the Irish airline. It has 8 new routes and in these first weeks record numbers of arrivals and departures have been recorded. I am very happy – declared the president of Calabria Roberto Occhiuto – of the collaboration with Ryanair which in this summer season has also strengthened the routes from the airports of Lamezia Terme and Crotone. Ryanair, the leading airline in Europe, is now present in Calabria with 30 connections.”
It was the “Tito Minniti” airport that hosted the press conference this morning where, in addition to making the first assessment, the new flights and the many ideas planned were announced. Present at the event, in addition to the Calabrian governor and Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson, also Marco Franchini, sole director of Sacal.
An expansion of Ryanair which marks the beginning «of a long-term strategy – explained CEO Wilson – with the Region to position Calabria as a leading destination in Europe. Thus increasing inbound tourism, connectivity and employment, whilst offering the lowest fares in Europe.” Eddie Wilson in his speech assured the company’s commitment to “providing competitive rates and greater connectivity. Ryanair is poised to transform travel for residents and visitors, unlocking the full potential of the Calabria region, attracting a diverse range of tourists and stimulating economic development. While recognizing the commendable efforts of the Italian regions and progressive airports such as Reggio in promoting tourism and connectivity.”
RYANAIR, NEW ROUTES TO REGGIO CALABRIA BUT ALSO AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT
But it is from Reggio Calabria that the CEO of Ryanair made an appeal to the «Italian Government to exploit this progress by immediately reducing – he said – access costs and abolishing the municipal surcharge/regressive tourism tax to stimulate further growth in capacity and reduce passenger fares.
If the Italian Government – continued Wilson – were to abolish the additional municipal/tourism tax, Ryanair will respond with an investment of 4 billion dollars in Italy, adding 40 new planes, another 20 million more passengers per year and beyond 250 new routes, over the next 4 years. Reggio Calabria could benefit from the abolition of the municipal surtax/tourism tax with further Ryanair investments in routes, connectivity and jobs.”
And again, Ryanair’s CEO announced the offer: «Citizens/visitors of Calabria can now book their low-cost flights for summer ’24 on 8 routes starting from just 21.99 euros on ryanair.com. We look forward – he concluded – to welcoming millions of Italian and foreign citizens/visitors on board Ryanair flights to/from Reggio Calabria for the summer of ’24”.
Ryanair is also evaluating other investment possibilities. There is the idea of creating a base for aircraft maintenance or hosting a training center for pilots and staff. «This would be very important for me – commented Occhiuto – because it would make the union between Calabria and Ryanair more structural. I asked them to evaluate the possibility of adding a route to Milan or Bergamo.”
OCCHIUTO: «WE WANT TO GROW THE ENTIRE REGIONAL AIRPORT SYSTEM»
And Roberto Occhiuto did not hide his satisfaction. The governor also highlighted how «our goal is to grow the entire regional airport system. To bring more and more tourists to Calabria and also to give new opportunities to our fellow citizens. With Ryanair – he continued – we have started a journey that will bring great and positive news for our Region in the coming months and years”.
At the same time he highlighted how «when I took office I inherited an immobile airport system, almost collapsing. In a few months we placed Sacal under the control of the Region and finally made it operational. At the same time we have built a modernization plan for all Calabrian airports. Two years ago the Reggio Calabria airport was in a coma. Without any prospect of development and with flights to Rome and Milan at risk of being cancelled. We saved those links, we doubled them. A few months ago we officially presented Ryanair’s landing on the shores of the Strait with Eddie Wilson.” Occhiuto finally thanked Eddie Wilson “for his new visit to our Region”.
Sacal Sole Director Marco Franchini declared that «Ryanair confirms itself as an intrepid and reliable travel companion. Capable of making even smaller airports take off towards increasingly ambitious destinations, an engine of growth and a model of tourism development and beyond. The entire regional territory will be able to benefit from travel at advantageous fares and the great opportunity of being connected to the most beautiful European capitals.”
