Ryanair told to move flights from Rome's Ciampino Airport

Italian authorities have told Ryanair to transfer flights to Rome's Fiumicino Airport (the cities main airport), from its existing Ciampino Airport base. Italian Transport Minister Alessandro Bianchi confirmed the move, estimating that one million passengers a year will be affected by the decision.

Mr Bianchi, Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, Lazio region president Piero Marrazzo, and air regulator ENAC president Enrico Gasbarra have agreed to cut daily flights out of Ciampino Airport to 100, from 138, effective from the introduction of winter schedules in late October, the transport ministry said.

Mr Bianchi said Ciampino's annual passengers has risen from 800,0000 to 5 million in the last 5 years, causing noise and other pollution problems for local residents.

Recognising the value of tourism brought to Rome by Ryanair, the minister said he is examining 3 neighbouring, mainly military, airports at Latina, Viterbo and Frosinone to see if one of these can be used by low-cost airlines. However, a decision will only be made in October, which is a bit late for this winter's flights.

In the past, Ryanair has said that if had to close its operations at Ciampino it would leave Rome rather than use Fiumicino, which is Rome's larger airport and used by international carriers. The three alternative options for a low-cost airport in Rome do not have suitable runways for its aircraft, it has said.

Since launching at Ciampino, Ryanair has built up annual passenger numbers to 3.3 million a year. A spokesman for the Irish budget airline declined to comment, saying it had not been notified of the decision.