Ryanair is to launch nine new routes from the UK to Emilia Romagna this summer with a 50% increase in seat capacity.
The airports abolished the municipal surcharge
This is Ryanair's investment in the airports of Emilia Romagna - Forlì, Parma and Rimini - for summer 2026, and responds to the Region's decision to abolish the municipal surcharge at smaller airports, as proposed by President De Pascale and supported by the Italian Parliament. Emilia-Romagna is now the fifth Italian region to have abolished this regressive tax, following in the footsteps of Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Sicily, in order to stimulate growth in traffic, tourism and employment.
Twenty routes to Emilia Romagna this summer
Overall, in the coming summer, the low-cost airline will operate through a network of 20 routes with three to Forlì, two new routes to Cagliari and London Stansted, five to Parma. There will also be three new routes to Tirana, Reggio Calabria and London Stansted, twelve to Rimini, and four new routes to Wroclaw, Manchester, Cologne and Catania. This represents over 250,000 additional seats per year (+50%), with a target of 660,000 passengers per year (+50%).
“A record-breaking summer for Forli Airport”
“We are delighted to announce this record-breaking operation for summer 2026 in Forlì, Parma and Rimini. It is aa direct result of the Region's proactive decision to abolish the municipal surcharge at smaller airports in Emilia Romagna. Now is the right time to take a step forward. Abolishing this anti-growth tax at all Italian airports would unlock further growth, low fares and greater connectivity for all Italian citizens and tourists. It would allow Ryanair to implement an ambitious growth plan for Italy that includes 40 new aircraft (£3 billion investment), 20 million additional passengers, over 250 new routes and 15,000 jobs across Italy,” said Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO.
An appeal to Ryanair to support smaller airports
The President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale, added: 'The elimination of the municipal surcharge for Rimini, Forlì and Parma creates conditions of greater competitiveness to attract new routes, tourism and employment. The positive dialogue with Ryanair, which has already invested heavily in new routes to smaller airports, confirms that the path taken is producing tangible results. The launch of the regional airport plan was also the result of constructive institutional collaboration with the government, the relevant ministry and ENAC. We appeal to them to continue to support the entire Italian airport system, with a focus on smaller airports, which represent a strategic infrastructure for territorial cohesion, economic competitiveness and the tourist appeal of Emilia-Romagna.”
