Ryanair Launches New Winter Routes 2024: Milan Gets More, Bergamo Gets Less, and Michael O'Leary Wants Your Surcharges Gone!

Italy’s favourite airline (and let's be honest, probably its loudest) Ryanair has big plans for winter 2024! Like a chef tossing pizza dough into the air, Ryanair is launching 10 new routes from Milan Malpensa Airport, whisking travelers off to sun-drenched Fuerteventura, the ancient ruins of Athens, the festive squares of Budapest, and… wait for it… the winter wonders of Tallinn. Yes, Estonia! So, pack your thermals and sunscreen, because Ryanair’s got you covered—Mallorca to Marrakech and everywhere in between. The 10 new winter routes from Milan Malpensa Airport are to Athens, Budapest, Paris, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Mallorca, Marrakech, Reggio Calabria, Rzeszow, and Tallinn. 

If that wasn’t enough to get you rummaging through your sock drawer for your passport, Ryanair is also parking its eighth aircraft at Milan Malpensa. This move is set to boost their traffic by 10%, meaning 4.5 million eager passengers will be zipping around the continent, experiencing new cultures and, of course, Ryanair’s infamous legroom.

Bergamo's Bye-Bye to Seats

But not all Italian airports are basking in Ryanair’s wintery glow. Over at Milan Bergamo, it’s not all spritz and sunshine. Ryanair has decided to trim down its fleet there from 24 to 20 aircraft, causing a 5% decline in seat capacity. Why, you ask? Because Ryanair is redirecting its attention to airports that are friendlier to their bottom line (hey, it’s a business, folks).

Trieste & Reggio Calabria: The New Italian Darlings

With a twinkle in his eye, Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s Group CEO, made it clear why Bergamo’s loss is Trieste and Reggio Calabria’s gain: municipal surcharges, baby! Airports in Friuli Venezia Giulia and Calabria have waved goodbye to these pesky fees, opening the floodgates to cheaper flights and more tourists—Ryanair tourists, to be specific.

O'Leary was quick to advocate for nationwide surcharge abolition, promising that if Italy ditches these charges at all its airports, Ryanair would happily throw $4 billion into the Italian economy. That’s right, 40 new aircraft, 250 new routes, and a whopping 1,500 jobs! In O’Leary’s words, "More planes, more jobs, and, of course, more of those iconic Ryanair announcements that you can barely understand over the crackle of the speaker."

Ryanair Launches New Winter Routes 2024

So, whether you're dreaming of Krakow’s medieval charm, Parisian cafes, or Reggio Calabria's southern Italian sunshine, Ryanair is making sure your winter is full of budget-friendly jet-setting. Just make sure you avoid the municipal surcharge. After all, O'Leary’s on a mission to make Italy surcharge-free, one flight at a time!

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EasyJet’s Lyon Route Resumes to Budapest!

Hold onto your seatbelts, Budapest, because easyJet is flying back into town with its twice-weekly flights between Budapest and Lyon! After a pandemic hiatus that had us all wondering if our travel plans were just a dream, this route is making a grand comeback. So, dust off your berets and pack your ski poles—your French adventure is ready to take off!

Lyon Meets Budapest: A Match Made in Jetstream Heaven

In a delightful twist of fate, easyJet’s relaunch of this route is set to offer over 2,500 seats each month, and guess what? It’s flying solo—no direct competition in sight! With Budapest Airport’s management team at VINCI Airports celebrating this return like it’s the revival of disco, it’s clear this route is as hot as a fresh croissant out of the oven.

And let’s not forget the tourism boom: 193,000 French tourists visited Budapest in 2023, up by 7% from before the pandemic. That’s a lot of berets and baguettes finding their way to Hungarian hot springs and thermal baths! Máté Ritter, Head of Airline Development at Budapest Airport, is practically doing a happy dance over the figures. Last year, 22,000 adventurous souls traveled indirectly between Lyon and Budapest—proving that this route isn’t just popular, it’s practically legendary.

From French Alps to Hungarian Heat: Ski or Sip, Your Call

With Lyon’s proximity to the French Alps, expect a flurry of Hungarian skiers and snow enthusiasts joining the fun. Or if you’re more into sipping coffee and people-watching, Budapest has that covered too. Either way, easyJet has got your back!

Lyon is now easyJet’s fourth destination from Budapest, joining the ranks of London Gatwick, Basel, and Geneva. And as if that’s not enough, easyJet is also gearing up to resume its Budapest to Paris Charles de Gaulle route this October, offering four flights a week.

EasyJet’s Lyon Route Resumes to Budapest

So, if you’ve been dreaming of a French escape or just want to experience a bit of Budapestian magic, now’s your chance. Buckle up, because easyJet is making travel dreams come true, one flight at a time!

Contact our DMC in Budapest to plan your next trip or alternatively if you fancy France as your next group trip check out our DMC in France. 

First All-You-Can-Fly Subscription in Europe

Budapest-based Wizz Air, which is the seventh-largest carrier in Europe, has introduced a highly unique all-you-can-fly subscription plan across its entire network. For passengers, this move represents a departure from traditional travel practices and some of the most affordable prices on the market.

Key Highlights First All-You-Can-Fly Subscription in Europe:

Subscription Details:

Collaboration with Caravelo: To implement this creative undertaking, Wizz Air joined forces with Caravelo, a subscription specialist for travel tech. Unlimited flights on any of the routes that Wizz Air offers can be accessed by subscribers through a single annual payment.

Pricing: Currently the cost is at €499 but it will rise to €599 on Friday. The requirement is that they only have to do their bookings within 72 hours prior to takeoff to book as many flight as possible.

Expansion of Previous Success:

This new product looks to build on last year’s first ever subscription service by Wizz Air and Caravelo. It comprised of monthly payments for one-way or round-trip flights within Italy and from Poland abroad.

Industry Impact:

Silvia Mosquera, CCO at Wizz Air: “We worked really close together with Caravelo and it played a critical role in enabling us to launch an innovative subscription solution like this. The initial roll-outs of our multi-flight pass have given us confidence to develop our subscription offering even further as there is a clearly demand for flexible travel solutions.”

Caravelo’s Role: In September 2017, Caravelo raised €3.5m; previously it partnered with airlines such as Alaska Airlines (AS), Mexico’s Volaris airline, Flysafair in South Africa. Iñaki Uriz said he was happy about the extension of Wizz Air partnership, and added, “By growing our subscription service, we are showing a strong commitment to travel industry innovation and customer satisfaction.”

First All-You-Can-Fly Subscription in Europe

Wizz Air’s all-you-can-fly subscription service is poised to reshape air travel in Europe by offering passengers greater flexibility for trips without being concerned with individual ticket costs. This daring move marks a new era of budget traveling and makes Wizz Air an innovator in this sphere.

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Budapest Airport Announces Four New Routes

Budapest Airport have announced that Wizz Air are launching four new year round routes (starting winter 2024). These four news routes include two new destinations and a revival of two previous routes. 

New and Revived Routes:

Marrakech:

• Start Date: Late October
• Frequency Twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays
• Details: Re-establishes a direct connection to Morocco, last available in 2019.

Genoa (italy):

• Start Date: Late October
• Frequency: Three times weekly
• Details: Targets Hungarian cruise travelers and tourists who previously accessed the region via Milan.

Girona (Spain):

• Start Date: Late October
• Frequency: Three times weekly
• Details: Enhances Budapest’s connectivity to Southern France and the Pyrenees.

Memmingen (Germany):

• Start Date: December 17
• Frequency: Four times weekly
• Details: Restores a link to Bavaria, last available in 2012, providing an alternative gateway to Munich.

Impact on Budapest Airport:

Capacity Increase: Adds half a million seats annually.
Connectivity Boost: Significantly enhances travel options.

Budapest Airport Announces Four New Routes

Máté Ritter, Head of Airline Development, expressed enthusiasm for the new routes and the enhanced travel options they will bring.

Thinking of travelling to one of these marvellous locations? Why not let one of our fabulous DMCs help you with a personlised itinerary and help with finding the right accomodation to suit you and your clients needs. Check out our DMCs here