More expensive flights in Veneto and Cagliari, a surprise drop in Olbia and Malpensa: the summer bag

The airports of Veneto and that of Cagliari lead the ranking of air ticket prices in Italy. The ports of Puglia and Turin are following in the upward race. Small facilities are seeing a significant decline, perhaps because carriers are starting to struggle to fill planes. The structures of Rome and Milan show variations below the national trend. With Malpensa costing even less for the summer period than a year earlier. This is what emerges from the analysis of Corriere della Sera on the fares published by all airlines operating in our country.

The methodology

The data — extracted from specialized platforms — takes into account the average prices of airline tickets for an Economy class flight (taxes included, extra services excluded) departing or arriving for each Italian airport for the consolidated period January-May of this year. The prices published on connections scheduled between June and August were then considered to provide a first overview of the peak season. The analysis focuses on a “homogeneous” basin, therefore on national and international (intra-European) flights, since there are few structures that also have intercontinental routes.

Prices on domestic flights

On domestic routes in the first five months of this year Milan Linate, Florence and Reggio Calabria were the most expensive airports, with average fares of 67-75 euros per flight. Alghero, Pescara and Rimini were the most convenient, with 21-24 euros. But to get a better idea of ​​the price trend, a comparison should be made with the same period the year before. To discover that Cagliari recorded the greatest increase – again on national flights – with a +71%, followed by Venice (+39%), Verona (+37%). Bari also rises significantly (+26%). At the bottom of the ranking, Pescara -32% and Ancona -60% should be noted.

Flights with Europe

On flights with Europe, fares in the first five months rise the most in Lamezia Terme (+29%), Turin (+20%) and Venice (+12%). They drop – compared to the period January-May 2023 – in Rome Fiumicino (-6%), Ciampino (-15%), Olbia (-18%), Alghero (-21%). In Venice it should be remembered that the Municipality’s initiative – later rejected by the Council of State – to add a surtax on tourists (2.5 euros per departing traveller) to the municipal surtax (6.5 euros) had an impact. , so much so that it led Europe’s main low-cost airline, Ryanair, to cut its offer and move it to Trieste where the surcharge has been completely removed.

Costs for the summer

But what summer awaits us? As told by Courier a few days ago, while intra-European flights in the Old Continent show a first sign of decline, those in Italy continue to rise, in particular in the “domestic” segment. And in fact the average increase in domestic flight fares rose by another 10% in the June-August quarter. They range from a peak of +65% in Treviso and +43% in Cagliari up to -34% in Olbia. A particular fact considering the strong summer “vocation” of the Costa Smeralda port. But the reduction is largely explained by the entry of Ryanair which, in addition to introducing cheaper tickets, forced its rivals to reduce their prices. Also worth highlighting is the -7% at Malpensa.

International connections

On the Italy-Europe routes, Turin recorded the highest price increase in the period June-August 2024 (over the same time frame as 2023) with +23%. However, other, smaller airports also increased, such as Pescara (+20%), Alghero (+18%) and, again, Cagliari (+17%). The values ​​are still susceptible to variations because thousands of people will book tickets close to departure, paying more. However, there are several minus signs that affect almost half of Italian airports. There are -9% at Linate, -11% at Fiumicino, -20% at Ciampino and Malpensa, Naples and Catania. How come? One of the explanations from the experts points to the fact that in 2023 the carriers raised ticket prices especially in large airports, to “fall back” this year because bookings are lower than expected.

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