Barcelona, December 14^th, 2023 – Volotea, the airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, has announced its eighth Italian base in Bari, marking its 21st in Europe. As the company's second-largest market, Italy plays a crucial role in its expansion plans. This news comes after Volotea recently revealed its ninth base in France, located in the city of Brest.

With a 38% increase in capacity, Volotea is set to enhance its offerings from Bari in 2024, introducing eight new routes:

• Starting July 3rd: 
  • Preveza/Lefkada - Two weekly flights (Tuesdays and Saturdays), with over 3,000 available seats.
• Beginning July 4th:
  • Toulouse - Twice-weekly flights (Thursdays and Sundays), with nearly 6,500 seats.
  • Dubrovnik and Rhodes - Three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays), with over 9,000 seats each. 
• From July 5th:
  • Comiso and Bilbao - Two weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays), each with over 6,000 seats.
  • Split - Twice-weekly flights (Mondays and Fridays), with more than 6,000 seats.
• Starting July 6th: 
  • Malaga - Two weekly flights (Tuesdays and Saturdays), with over 6,100 seats.

These new routes will further expand travel options from the Puglia Region while enhancing connections for passengers traveling from the area.

Having been present at Bari airport since 2012, Volotea has successfully operated approximately 19,400 flights and has carried over 2 million passengers to date. The establishment of this new base further underscores Volotea's ongoing growth and commitment in Italy.

"The opening of the summer base in Bari once again confirms Volotea's growth in Italy," said Valeria Rebasti, International Market Director of Volotea. "This important milestone and the connections announced today allow us to consolidate the area's connectivity, with a total of 18 destinations to 5 different countries, including Croatia and Spain, which are brand new for our 2024 summer in Bari. In this way, we will shorten the distances between Puglia, one of the most desired Italian destinations, and the rest of Europe even more. But that's not all; the opening of this new base allows us to further strengthen our presence locally, supporting the economy through increased tourist flows. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank Aeroporti di Puglia for their valuable support in achieving this important new milestone for Volotea."

"Volotea's announcement that from next summer, it will connect 18 destinations from Bari - 8 of which are brand new - is excellent news for us and Puglia," said the President of Aeroporti di Puglia, Antonio Maria Vasile. "In addition to the new destinations, all commercially of great interest, there is another important decision by the company, the opening of the base in Bari.This will allow, in line with our strategic plan, a diversification of supply by companies, promoting competitiveness, competition, and adaptability to changing market conditions in favor of consumers. In an industry subject to variables such as fuel costs, economic instability, and changes in passenger preferences, diversification allows airlines to mitigate negative impacts, airports to offer a wider range of destinations to passengers, and Aeroporti di Puglia to expand its network. This choice acknowledges and attests to the great work we have been doing for some time to offer ever higher standards to passengers transiting through our airports. I am convinced that a Bari-based aircraft will contribute significantly to the vitality, profitability, and connectivity of the airport and its supply chain, with the growth of local employment. I also believe it is important to consider how Volotea's decision contributes incisively to improving, in a logic of competitiveness, the offer of 'Karol Wojtyla.' Today, therefore, is a day to be remembered for this company that I am honored to preside over and is meant to be a stimulus to do better and better for the good of the territory, always in synergy with the Puglia Region and with those companies that are confirmed, in fact, as reliable partners."

By stationing an Airbus A320 in Bari, Volotea will expand its offering to provide an even broader selection of destinations. In 2024, 18 connections will be available: 9 in Greece (Athens, Corfu, Heraklion/Crete, Mykonos, Santorini, Skiathos, Zakynthos, Preveza/Lefkada and Rhodes - the latter two new in 2024), 3 in Italy (Comiso - new in 2024, Florence and Olbia), 2 in France (Lyon and Toulouse - the latter new in 2024), 2 in Spain (Bilbao and Malaga - new for 2024) and 2 in Croatia (Dubrovnik and Split - new for 2024).

The new routes can be booked now on the airline's website at https://www.volotea.com/.

ABOUT VOLOTEA
Volotea was founded in 2011 by Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros, also previously founders of Vueling. It is one of the fastest-growing independent airlines in Europe in the last decade, increasing its fleet, routes served, and seats offered year-on-year. This year, the airline has celebrated a milestone of carrying 55 million passengers throughout its network.

Volotea reaches more than 100 airports and is currently based in 19 medium-sized European capitals: Asturias, Athens, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Cagliari, Florence (new in 2023), Hamburg, Lille, Lyon, Lourdes, Marseille, Nantes, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Venice, and Verona. The airline has announced its 20th base in Europe and 9th in France in the city of Brest, Brittany, with operations starting in April 2024.

In 2024, Volotea will operate more than 450 routes (with over half exclusive), offer close to 13.3M seats (+18% versus 2023), and fly approximately 78,000 flights. The airline operates a fleet of 41 Airbus A319 and A320.

Volotea is working towards achieving a more sustainable future in aviation and has committed to reducing 50% of its CO2 emissions per passenger and kilometer by 2025 (versus 2012), 5 years before than the original target. To date, Volotea has launched over 50 sustainability initiatives that have already driven a reduction in carbon footprint per passenger and kilometer by more than 45%. Since 2022, the company has been working on developing emission-free alternative technologies, operating Airbus' internal shuttle service with 34% of sustainable aviation fuel, and collaborating with manufacturers and the industry so that these fuels (now difficult to access) can be developed and become widespread as soon as possible. 

Volotea, with a workforce of 1,820 employees, actively boosts connectivity within the territories where it is based, while contributing to their economic development and enriching the cultural landscape through impactful sponsorship projects.

Volotea was recognized by Skytrax in its global passenger satisfaction survey as the “Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe” at the 2023 World Airline Awards, referred to by media around the world as “the Oscars of the aviation industry.” The airline adds this accolade to its growing list of achievements, which includes consecutive wins for "Leading European Low-Cost Airline" at the World Travel Awards in 2021 and 2022.

Contact

Volotea Press
For more information: https://www.volotea.com/en/press-room/
press@volotea.com
Tel: +34 93 117 17 77