Ryanair has announced a major investment in Sicily, Italy, with the opening of a new base at Trapani-Marsala Airport from January 2026. The low-cost carrier’s strategic move will see two Boeing 737 aircraft permanently based at Trapani-Marsala, the airline’s third base in Sicily and 20th across Italy.

Ryanair’s Strategic Investment for Sicily

The announcement follows the Sicilian Region’s decision to abolish the Municipal Tax at smaller airports, a measure expected to boost regional growth and passenger traffic.

As part of the $200 million project, Ryanair plans to operate 23 routes, including 11 new connections to major European destinations such as London, Bratislava, Stockholm and Brussels. The plan will also focus on increased domestic flights to cities like Verona, Pescara and Bari.

The million-dollar expansion is forecast to create more than 800 local jobs and handle over one million passengers annually.

The airlines also plan to improve year-round connectivity for Sicilian residents and tourists through a 10% increase in capacity on routes to Milan and Rome.

Eddie Wilson, Ryanair CEO, stated that the new base in Trapani-Marsala represents a long-term commitment to Sicily.

“By connecting Trapani with nine countries and key Italian cities, we are ensuring the island benefits from sustained economic growth, greater tourism and consistent year-round access,” he stated.

Municipal Tax Reforms in Sicily Driving Growth

The project focusing on the new base at Trapani-Marsala Airport, leading to its revival, comes after years of challenges, including the absence of Ryanair services for a decade. Local authorities credit the abolishment of the Municipal Tax as a decisive factor in attracting investment back to the region.

Regional President Renato Schifani’s government has positioned the elimination of the tax as a cornerstone of its strategy to enhance air travel across Sicily.

Officials stated that the removal of the surcharge encourages airlines to expand and makes secondary airports more competitive.

“The elimination of the surtax could attract up to five million additional passengers to Sicilian airports. This will not only lower fares but also strengthen our regional economy and tourism,” said Alessandro Arico, Sicily’s Councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility.

Calling Ryanair’s return “the milestone” of Trapani-Marsala Airport’s revival, Airgest President Salvatore Ombra, whose team oversees Trapani’s Vincenzo Florio airport, stated, “After a 10-year absence, we are seeing the results of our determination and the government’s support.”

“This is just the beginning of further modernisation plans,” he added.

Ryanair’s Wider Growth Plan for Italy

While Ryanair applauded Sicily’s regional tax reforms, the airline has also urged the Italian government to remove the Municipal Tax nationwide.

The low-cost carrier argues that abolishing the levy at larger airports such as Catania and Palermo would unlock significant additional capacity on high-demand routes to Rome and Milan.

If the Municipal Tax is scrapped across Italy, Ryanair has pledged that it is ready to invest $4 billion, add 250 new routes, and deploy 40 new aircraft, delivering 20 million extra passengers annually.