Ryanair Eyes Expansion at Rome Fiumicino Amid ITA and Lufthansa Deal

Ryanair, the renowned Irish low-cost airline based in Dublin, is setting its sights on expanding its presence at Rome Fiumicino Airport. This strategic move comes in the wake of the anticipated slot availability following the Lufthansa Group’s acquisition of ITA Airways. Michael O’Leary, the Chief Executive of Ryanair Holdings, expressed keen interest in these additional slots during a press conference held in Italy.

Currently, Ryanair holds a significant position at Fiumicino, being the airport’s second-largest operator with an 11.1% market share in terms of weekly scheduled departure capacity. The airline has already announced its intention to launch five new routes from Fiumicino in the Summer 2024 season, connecting to Dubrovnik, Gothenburg Landvetter, Lisbon, Malta International, and Paris Beauvais. However, with the potential acquisition of new slots, Ryanair is poised for even more robust growth at this key Italian hub.

Apart from its operations at Fiumicino, Ryanair has a dominant presence at Rome Ciampino Airport, where it leads the market with a commanding 91.5% market share by capacity.

In contrast to its ambitious plans for Rome, Ryanair has shown comparatively less interest in expanding at Milan Linate Airport, another focal point for possible slot distribution due to the ITA/Lufthansa deal. Ryanair’s strategy leans more towards bolstering its presence at Milan Bergamo and Milan Malpensa airports, opting not to serve Linate. This stands in stark contrast to its competitors, Wizz Air and easyJet, who have expressed a strong interest in increasing their access to the high-demand, slot-restricted Linate Airport.

This strategic focus of Ryanair on Rome Fiumicino highlights the airline’s commitment to expanding its footprint in key markets, capitalizing on opportunities arising from industry shifts and regulatory decisions.