Ryanair announces 2017 growth plan for Italy with investments of US$1bn

As the Italian Government has reversed the €2.50 municipal tax increase from September 1 2016 and revised airport guidelines, which will enable Italy’s regional airports to compete on a level playing field with airports in Rome and Milan as long as they comply with the EU’s MEIP rules. These initiatives have now allowed Pescara airport to reach a new growth agreement with Ryanair, which will now reverse the previously announced closure of the Pescara base in November. Ryanair announced that it will invest US$1bn (10 news aircraft), open 44 news routes and grow Italian traffic by 10% to 35m in 2017. Ryanair says it plans to create 2,250 new jobs at Italy’s airports in 2017.