24 October 2008

Ryanair adds pressure on Alitalia

Ryanair is expanding from another base in Italy, putting more low fares pressure on struggling Alitalia.

The budget carrier is adding 11 new routes from Bologna next March.

The move follows yesterdayââ¬â¢s announcement of major expansion from Sardinia (see previous TravelMole story).

A seven day â'š~¬5 seat sale on the new Bologna routes has been launched for travel in March, April and May.   

The seven new international services include a connection to Edinburgh.

The four new Italian domestic routes will serve Bari, Brindisi, Lamezia and Trapani in Sicily.

The expansion will bring an additional 800,000 passengers to Bologna each year, with Ryanair on target to carry more than two million from 25 destinations by 2012. 

It also means that Italy will be Ryanairââ¬â¢s second largest market after the UK.

Ryanairââ¬â¢s Giovanna Gentile said: ââ¬ÅâœAt a time when Alitalia and Air One are merging, increasing fares and raising unjustified fuel surcharges, the conditions for more Ryanair low fare growth in Italy have never been better. 

ââ¬ÅâœRyanair is already the No.1 international airline in Italy, carrying more international passengers to/from Italy than Alitalia.ââ¬~

by Phil Davies 

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