Published: 5 March 2026
By Rupert the Reindeer, AppSavvyTraveller Editorial Team
Ryanair expands Apulia network with 82 routes for Summer 2026
Ryanair has announced its Summer 2026 schedule for the Apulia region, confirming a programme of 82 routes operating from Bari and Brindisi airports. The schedule includes three new routes from Bari to Bucharest, Bristol and Trapani-Marsala, expanding the airline’s network across southern Italy and strengthening links with key European destinations.
The airline will base five aircraft in Apulia for the summer season – three in Bari and two in Brindisi. Ryanair says this represents an investment of approximately $500 million, supporting aviation activity and tourism development throughout the region.
According to the airline, the expanded schedule will deliver more than seven million passengers annually through the two airports while supporting around 5,400 jobs linked to tourism and aviation. These roles include airport operations, hospitality services, transport providers and the wider regional tourism economy.
The programme also reflects Ryanair’s long-term strategy of growing traffic at regional airports, where lower operating costs and strong leisure demand allow airlines to expand routes and increase passenger capacity.
Why this matters for travellers
For travellers considering a trip to southern Italy, the expanded schedule offers more direct flight options into the Apulia region, one of the country’s fastest-growing tourism destinations.
The addition of the Bristol–Bari route is particularly significant for UK passengers. It provides a new direct link between southwest England and Italy’s Adriatic coast, improving accessibility for travellers who previously needed to connect through larger hubs.
From Bari, visitors can easily reach Alberobello’s famous trulli houses, the coastal town of Polignano a Mare, the historic city of Lecce and the beaches of the Salento peninsula. These destinations have become increasingly popular with international visitors seeking alternatives to more crowded Italian hotspots.
More airline capacity often leads to greater competition between carriers and potentially lower fares, particularly during the busy summer travel period. Additional routes also provide travellers with more flexible departure times and improved connections between European cities and southern Italy.
Ryanair calls for airport tax changes
Alongside the launch of its Summer 2026 schedule, Ryanair renewed its call for the Italian government and regional authorities to abolish the municipal aviation tax applied at many Italian airports.
The airline argues that removing the tax would significantly improve competitiveness and encourage airlines to expand routes across the country. According to Ryanair, regions that have already removed the tax have experienced increased tourism, additional airline investment and stronger year-round connectivity.
Fabrizio Francioni, Ryanair’s Head of Communications for Italy, said the airline remains committed to developing routes in the country but believes the municipal tax limits potential growth.
He noted that removing the tax nationwide could unlock substantial new investment from Ryanair, enabling the airline to add aircraft, open new routes and increase passenger numbers across multiple Italian airports.
The airline has pointed to Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Sicily and Emilia-Romagna as examples where reduced airport charges have encouraged airlines to increase capacity and introduce additional routes.
Regional airports welcome the expansion
The announcement has been welcomed by Aeroporti di Puglia, the organisation responsible for managing Bari and Brindisi airports.
Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia, said the expanded schedule strengthens the region’s international connectivity at a time when the aviation sector continues to face economic and operational challenges.
He highlighted that investing in routes and accessibility is essential for supporting Apulia’s tourism ecosystem, which relies heavily on international visitors arriving through the region’s airports.
Vasile also noted that the partnership between Ryanair and Apulia’s airports has been active for more than 22 years, during which time the airline has carried over 60 million passengers to and from the region.
According to airport authorities, continued airline investment could help position Apulia as one of the most visited regions in Italy, supported by improved connectivity, expanding tourism infrastructure and growing global interest in the region’s culture, cuisine and coastline.
