Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) plans to base two B737s at Trapani in 2026, ten years after it closed its base at the Sicilian airport. The Irish low-cost carrier confirmed to ch-aviation that both aircraft will be stationed there in January 2026 but added that the aircraft variant and AOC under which they will operate have yet to be determined.
The airline intends to add new routes to Bari, Bournemouth, Saarbrücken, Verona, and Stockholm. In total, Ryanair aims to operate 23 services out of Trapani.
Chief executive Eddie Wilson said that the opening of the new base comes as a result of Sicily's decision to scrap the municipal tax on small airports, and he called for the island's government to extend this measure to all airports. Wilson also said that Ryanair would be ready to station 40 additional aircraft in Italy should the central government decide to abolish municipal tax on all airports in the country.
Ryanair's fleet currently comprises 205 B737-800s and 127 B737-8-200s. Both variants are also operated by Ryanair affiliates Malta Air and Buzz (Poland), while Ryanair UK and Lauda Europe rely solely on B737-800s and A320-200s, respectively.
ch-aviation data shows that Ryanair is the largest operator in Trapani and accounts for 85.1% of weekly scheduled passenger capacity out of the airport. Currently, the company connects Trapani with 18 airports across Europe. The airport is also served by GoTo Fly and DAT (Denmark).
