Italy's airline market is experiencing one of its most robust recoveries since the pre-pandemic era. According to recent analysis, summer 2026 capacity will surpass the European average, with approximately 39.9 million departure seats in the second quarter, reflecting a 6.6% increase year on year and nearly 26% above 2019 levels. This growth underscores Italy’s resilience, driven by strong leisure demand and ongoing expansion from low-cost airlines.
Data also shows that Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs) and Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers (ULCCs) will account for nearly 62% of all departure seats from and within Italy in Q2 2026. Ryanair continues to dominate the market, commanding a 35.5% share of departure capacity, with over one million additional seats compared to previous year.
Main Players and Market Shifts
Among other notable carriers, Wizz Air and easyJet maintain their significant presence, with Wizz Air increasing its share from 7.7% to 9.9%, adding about 1.05 million seats. EasyJet's capacity share stands at 8.8%, demonstrating steady growth. The national flag carrier, ITA Airways, holds a 9.9% share of Italy's departure capacity, a figure comparable to Wizz Air but smaller compared to historic Alitalia capacity. Currently, ITA offers around 3.9 million seats in Q2 2026, down from approximately 6.1 million in 2019.
ITA Airways has adopted a more focused strategy, emphasizing core domestic and business routes, expanding long-haul services, and connecting through Lufthansa Group hubs. Lufthansa completed a 41% stake purchase in ITA in January 2025, with options to raise it to 90%. Since joining Star Alliance in April 2025, ITA contributes over 350 daily flights to the alliance, mainly through Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate airports.
