A "half-measures" approach. Namely, the abolition of the municipal surcharge only for the winter period and not for the entire year, as decided yesterday by the Regional Council. Ryanair attacks the Region (again), urging it to "stop wasting time and money on unreliable territorial continuity routes and to completely abolish the municipal surcharge for the entire year, thus unblocking the low-cost carrier's rapid growth proposal."
The presidents of the Friuli Venezia Giulia, Calabria, Abruzzo, Sicily, and Emilia-Romagna regions, according to a statement from the Irish carrier, "have already abolished the municipal surcharge for the entire year, achieving double-digit traffic growth, new aircraft, and new bases, supporting huge growth in low-fare connectivity, year-round tourism, and local employment."
In 2024, the company presented the regional government with "an investment proposal that would bring over 2 million additional passengers per year (+40% growth), 4 additional aircraft (an investment of $400 million), and a new base in Northern Sardinia (creating over 900 local jobs)."
However, the warning is that " this significant growth opportunity can only materialize if Sardinia restores its competitiveness by abolishing the municipal surtax throughout the year."
Due to the Sardinian government's "half-hearted approach – which comes far too late, as airlines' winter schedules have already been finalized – Ryanair will see only limited growth this winter, including an increase in domestic frequencies from Cagliari to Milan Malpensa (from one daily flight to two daily flights) and Venice (from eight to ten weekly flights)."
According to Ryanair, "overall capacity in Sardinia will continue to decline this winter, with capacity reductions in both Alghero and Olbia, confirming the continued negative effects of the municipal surcharge."