Ryanair is prepared to invest $1 billion in Milan airports as part of plans to boost its presence in Italy's industrial heartland, as struggling Alitalia cuts back on flights.
Ryanair is to invest $840 million in Milan's Malpensa and $160 million in Bergamo's Orio al Serio airport, company spokesman Peter Sherrard told a news conference today.
The expansion would be in reaction to Alitalia's plans to nearly halve its 340 daily flights from Malpensa, he said.
The investment would be part of the carrier's plans to launch 80 routes to the two airports.
The expansion would be in reaction to Alitalia's plans to nearly halve its 340 daily flights from Malpensa, Mr Sherrard said.
At Malpensa, Ryanair would launch 50 European flights and 10 to Italian destinations, he said.
Ryanair management is set to discuss the plan with executives from Milan airports operator SEA on Friday in Dublin.
If agreement can be met tomorrow, Ryanair plans to double the size of its existing Bergamo base (currently 4 aircraft and 39 routes) by investing $420m in 6 additional aircraft before 2012.
It said it would invest $840m in Malpensa, basing 12 aircraft at the airport, starting with 5 in 2008, a further 4 in 2009 and 3 in 2010.
Ryanair plans to open 50 international routes from Malpensa and open 10 domestic routes from Milan.
