Low-cost airline Volotea, specialising in connections between small and medium-sized European cities, has announced the opening of its eighth Italian base and the 21st in Europe, located in Bari.
They have unveiled eight new routes planned for 2024 from this transalpine city in the Apulia region. Among them are two routes to Spain: Bilbao and Malaga. On July 6, the route between Malaga and Bari will debut with two weekly frequencies (Tuesdays and Saturdays) and over 6,100 available seats.
Volotea claims that Apulia is one of the most sought-after Italian destinations by Spaniards lately. Its offering of beaches, gastronomy, and culture increasingly attracts more travellers. These two direct connections from the north and south of Spain expand travel options for domestic tourists already planning their 2024 vacations. The direct flight between Bilbao and Bari will start on July 5, with two weekly frequencies (Mondays and Fridays) and an offering of over 6,000 seats.
“The opening of the base in Bari once again demonstrates Volotea’s growth in Italy. We anticipate increasing our seat capacity by over 19% by 2024 in the country, and our commitment to Bari and the announcement of this new base confirms it,” said Volotea’s Strategy Director, Gabriel Schmilovich.
“Both this milestone and the announced connections allow us to strengthen the connectivity of the area, with a total of 18 destinations in five different countries, including Spain and Croatia, which will be new additions for next summer in Bari. This way, we will further shorten the distances between Apulia, one of the most desired Italian destinations, and the rest of Europe,” he added.
Increased Activity in Bari
Present at Bari airport since 2012, Volotea has operated about 19,400 flights to date, transporting more than two million passengers. In 2024, the airline plans a 38% capacity increase and will equip the Bari base with an Airbus A320 aircraft. Volotea will thus offer a diversified range of destinations from Bari.
In 2024, there will be 18 available connections: nine in Greece (Athens, Corfu, Heraklion/Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Skiathos, Zakynthos, Preveza/Lefkada, and Rhodes), three in Italy (Comiso, Florence, and Olbia), two in France (Lyon and Toulouse), two in Spain (Bilbao and Malaga), and two in Croatia (Dubrovnik and Split).
Volotea was named the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe for 2023 by Skytrax, this being one of the most competitive low-cost airline markets in the world.
Route Deployment Calendar
Starting from July 3, the connection with Preveza/Lefkada in Greece will be available with two weekly frequencies on Tuesdays and Saturdays and over 3,000 seats available. From July 4, connections to Toulouse will be possible twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, with almost 6,500 seats for sale. Also, connections to Dubrovnik, with three weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and over 9,000 seats available; and to Rhodes, with three weekly frequencies on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, and over 9,000 seats for sale.
Starting from July 5, you can fly to Comiso (Italy) twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, with an offering of over 6,000 seats; and to Split, with over 6,000 seats for sale and a frequency of twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. All these destinations will further expand the offering from the Apulia region.
Facebook Post:
🌍 Exciting News from Volotea! 🛫 They’re spreading their wings with a new base in Bari, Italy, and unveiling eight fantastic routes for 2024, including two to sunny Spain: Bilbao and Malaga! 🇮🇹✈️🇪🇸
🏖️ Apulia is a hot spot for Spaniards, and now you can explore its beaches, cuisine, and culture with direct flights. Starting July 6, hop on the new route between Malaga and Bari (twice a week) or take off from Bilbao to Bari from July 5 (Mondays and Fridays)!
🚀 This expansion marks a 19% increase in Volotea’s Italian offerings by 2024, and Bari will become a hub with a diverse range of 18 destinations, including Spain and Croatia! 🌞🇭🇷
