+80% GROWTH FOR W25/S26 AFTER ABRUZZO REGION SCRAPS THE MUNICIPAL TAX

Ryanair, Europe, and Italy’s No. 1 airline, today (Fri, 28^th Nov) announced record Winter 2025 and Summer 2026 schedules for Pescara Airport, including 2 year-round based aircraft (for the first time ever during the Winter season), representing a US$200m investment in the region. This record investment from Ryanair will deliver more than 1.3 million passengers p.a. (+80% growth since the Mun Tax was scrapped) to Pescara, further demonstrating how President Marsilio’s removal of the Municipal Tax continues to fuel year-round growth, connectivity, tourism and economic growth in the Abruzzo Region.

Ryanair’s record W25 and S26 schedules to Pescara will deliver:

• 2 based aircraft – US$200m tot. invest.
• W25: 14 routes, 8 new: Cagliari, Milan Malpensa, Kaunas, Krakow, Trapani-Marsala, Turin, Valencia, and Wroclaw.
• S26: 21 routes, 1 new: Tirana & 1 reinstated: Milan Bergamo.
• Over 1.3m passengers p.a. (+80% vs 2024).
• Supp. over 1,000 jobs in the Abruzzo Region, incl. over 60 well paid pilots & crew.

Pescara Airport and the Abruzzo Region have become significantly more competitive and attractive for investment thanks to President Marsilio’s forward-thinking decision to scrap the Municipal Tax. Abruzzo was the third Italian region to scrap this regressive tax and since then, Ryanair has responded by adding one new aircraft (incremental +US$100m invest.), +80% traffic growth and supporting over 1,000 jobs – delivering more year-round connectivity at Europe’s lowest fares for the citizens of Abruzzo. However, if the rest of Italy wants to remain competitive compared to competing European countries such as Albania, Sweden and Slovakia which are actively reducing access costs, the Italian Government must abolish the Municipal Tax at all Italian airports to stimulate traffic, tourism, and job growth nationwide.

To celebrate this record growth in Pescara, Ryanair has launched a 3-day seat sale with fares from €34.99 to travel until the end of June, available from today for booking only at ryanair.com.

From Pescara, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said:

“As Italy’s No.1 airline, Ryanair is delighted to announce another year of record growth and investment at Pescara Airport – which is a direct result of President Marsilio’s move to abolish the punitive Municipal Tax in 2025. This strategic decision has allowed Ryanair to grow traffic to more than 1.3m annual passengers (+80% versus 2024) and unlock the Abruzzo Region’s full year-round potential. As part of this continuous growth, we are pleased to unveil our record Winter 2025 and Summer 2026 schedules today – delivering ever more domestic and international routes across both seasons, making it easier than ever for passengers to access Abruzzo’s stunning coastline and mountains, vibrant cities, and unique cultural heritage.

Today’s announcement demonstrates the transformative growth Ryanair can deliver to airports and regions that lower access costs. This move has unlocked year-round growth, delivering enhanced low-fare travel options, boosting inbound tourism, and supporting more than 1,000 jobs across the Abruzzo Region. However, it’s time for the Italian Government to accelerate traffic growth and increase competitiveness at all Italian airports.

Ryanair, therefore, calls on the Italian Government to scrap the Municipal Tax nationwide. Removing this unnecessary charge would enable Ryanair to deliver an additional 20 million passengers annually, 40 more aircraft worth $4bn, 15,000 new Ryanair jobs and over 250 new routes which would drive year-round tourism, investment, and employment across all of Italy.”

Abruzzo’s Region President, Marco Marsilio, said:

The equation of lower taxes plus more passengers works, and the results are evident. In Saga’s business plan, the goal of surpassing one million passengers was set for 2026, but we have brought it forward, and next year the number of passengers will be further increased. I see a lively airport; there is enthusiasm among the staff, and this is a source of pride for everyone. I hope that this significant growth serves as an incentive for other carriers, because this is an efficient, functional, and cost-effective airport. The new challenge is to improve the infrastructure to accommodate the arrival of more passengers with the new flights.”

Giorgio Fraccastoro, SAGA (Abruzzo Airport) President, said:

“With the achievement of one million passengers, which we wanted to celebrate by symbolically honoring a traveler, a new phase has begun for Abruzzo Airport, generating an increasingly significant impact for the entire regional territory. This has been made possible thanks to the synergy established with Ryanair and the Region. We are experiencing the busiest winter season ever for the airport, and the summer season will further increase last year’s already record numbers, with destinations being strengthened and frequencies increased in light of the excellent results achieved. The hope is that this relationship with the airline will grow stronger every day and that new routes, part of the airport users’ wishlist, can also be opened.”

To celebrate the milestone of one million passengers at the airport, the President of the Abruzzo Region, Marco Marsilio, the President of Saga, Giorgio Fraccastoro, and Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, presented a Ryanair gift card and two vouchers for experiences in Abruzzo, provided by Il Bosso and Majellando, to Gaia from Tuscany and Lorenzo from Marche, two passengers transiting through the airport on their way to Brussels.