April 19, 2026
Volotea will be the first airline to operate flights at the new Salerno airport, set to be officially operational on 11 July.
Starting with three Italian and one French route
The Spanish carrier will operate four routes, to Cagliari, Nantes, Catania, and Verona, from the gateway airport to the Amalfi Coast. The inaugural route will be Nantes on 11 July followed by Cagliari on 13 July both operating twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Commencing 2 September and for the entire winter season, flights will operate to Catania and Verona with two weekly frequencies on Mondays and Fridays.
“The significance of Campania in our future growth plans”
Operating at Naples airport since 2013, Volotea reaffirms the strategic importance of the Campania region in its expansion plans, which aim at boosting the local economy by increasing the arrival of tourists. 
Volotea’s president and founder Carlos Muñoz“The start of operations from Salerno’s airport is an important milestone for the region and for Volotea, and will allow us to further expand in the area. With the 23 flights already available from Naples’ Capodichino Airport, we can now offer four new routes from Salerno, once again underscoring the significance of Campania in our future growth plans,” said Volotea’s president and founder Carlos Muñoz.
Volotea’s eighth Italian base will be Bari
“The commencement of flights at Salerno Costa D'Amalfi airport is the result of significant strategic, infrastructural, and commercial efforts, - said Roberto Barbieri, CEO of Gesac, the airport management company. -The partnership with Volotea, which dates back to 2013, is an extraordinary driving force for the tourism development of our region.” Italy is the second market for Volotea, and in 2024, the airline plans to increase its capacity by 16%, providing 4.5 million seats, introducing new routes and establishing its eighth Italian base in Bari.
Published in Transportation
Italy is the eighth European country for the German Ruby Hotels brand.
The Florence hotel will have 118 rooms
Ruby Hotels, with its brand of so-called essential luxury, is to open in Florence at the beginning of the third quarter of 2024. The hotel, in a historic palace in the heart of the Tuscan capital, will have 118 rooms and a Ruby Workspace on a total area of approximately 300 sqm. The 19th-century building, which is located in Piazza della Libertà, in the northern part of the city centre, will also have a bar and cafeteria, a terrace in the inner courtyard and a dedicated workspace.
The Ruby Hotel Rome will be near the Spanish Steps
The new Ruby Hotel in Rome will open in 2025 and will be located in a former police office building with a historic façade near the Spanish Steps, in the centre of Rome. It will have some 165 rooms, a 24-hour bar and café, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the centre of the Eternal City.
Published in Hospitality
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, the jewel of Italy’s Sorrento Coast, is celebrating its 190th Anniversary this year.
Five million visitors flock to the coast each year
Founded by the Fiorentino family in 1834, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is readying itself to celebrate its 190th anniversary, with the family's sixth generation running the hotel today. The Sorrento Coast has been attracting the rich and famous since the 18th century when it became a popular stop on the Grand Tour. Since then, the area’s popularity has grown, and it now sees an average of five million visitors each year.
Guests should not miss a visit to ancient Pompeii
Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria sits on a perch high above the Mediterranean, with views that extend from the island of Procida across the Gulf to Naples and Mount Vesuvius. Set in five acres of olive, lemon and orange groves, the hotel was built on the ancient foundations of a villa designed for Emperor Augustus. For those looking to add a bit of culture to their Sorrento adventure, this icon is perfectly positioned to explore the ruined city of Pompeii, which was buried under volcanic ash following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79CE.
New Frecciarossa trains from Rome to Pompeii
The new direct high speed Frecciarossa train link departs from Rome and arrives in Pompeii every third Sunday of the month, along with a return train for those taking a day trip. From Pompeii, Sorrento is reachable in just 50 minutes via car. This easy new link is yet another reason to make Sorrento an obvious choice for those looking to explore one of Italy’s most hauntingly beautiful coastlines.
Published in Hospitality
As travellers grapple with the backlash from global warming and post-Covid societal changes, they are rethinking their holiday and business trip choices. Requests for shoulder season getaways to sunny spots like Italy are surging, although sun and sea destinations will hopefully be able to bid farewell to peak-season overtourism madness. Train journeys too are on the rise, of course for the scenic routes and the discovery of hidden gems along the way, but also because “the old way” is increasingly appealing to all ages.
Adding to this wave of nostalgia, and in a surprising twist, the era of high-tech and contactless hospitality is being challenged by a growing demand for tactile experiences in hotels and on transport. If fact it seems that guests are now looking for the simplicity of how things once were, like checking in at a reception desk, pulling open the curtains in their room, and purchasing a paper train ticket.
On the other hand, and with a futuristic leap, digital passports are looming on the horizon, and they are a game-changer. Finland led the way with a six-month trial last summer, and the European Union plans to introduce similar trials in Croatia and the Netherlands. Predictions are that by 2030 paper passports will be a relic of the past with electronic passports taking over, and promising enhanced security for globetrotters.
Pamela McCourt Francescone
Executive Editor
Published in Editorial
Luxury Bike Hotels’ mountain bike itineraries on the slopes of Mount Etna and in Umbria’s green valleys.
Tailor-made services for biking enthusiasts
Luxury Bike Hotels is a distinguished collection featuring 50 high-end accommodation facilities strategically located in key areas of cycle tourism in Italy. These hotels are renowned for their ability to provide tailor-made services for biking enthusiasts who love exploring different parts of Italy. Today the accessibility of mountain biking goes beyond experts and super enthusiasts, thanks to the availability of new e-MTBs with pedal assistance.
Monaci delle Terre Nere Eco Wine Resort, on the lava of Etna
One noteworthy property in this collection is the Monaci delle Terre Nere Eco Wine Resort. On the slopes of Mount Etna, in the Zafferana Etnea area, this resort is an 18th-century noble villa on a vast 60-acre estate, and is an ideal starting point for bicycle enthusiasts keen on exploring the unique surroundings of the volcano. The recommended Giro dell'Etna MTB route starts from the Zafferana Etnea bike point, taking cyclists through picturesque towns, up to the volcano's summit, and to medieval Randazzo. The journey continues to Linguaglossa, which is set in lush vineyards, completing a circular route back to Zafferana Etnea.
Services tailored to cyclists
At the Luxury Bike Hotel Monaci delle Terre Nere the suites and villas are scattered across different areas of the estate, and they all feature private gardens or patios. Services tailored to cyclists include a bike room with e-bike charging points and tools for routine maintenance, laundry facilities, an afternoon snack upon returning from excursions, and bike rental. The Locanda Nerello restaurant offers a seasonally inspired menu and has sea views, while the Pool Restaurant & Bar provides a simple and fresh menu for light lunches.
Torre del Nera in Umbria, the lush green heart of Italy
In another picturesque location, the medieval village of Scheggino in Umbria, the Luxury Bike Hotel Torre del Nera Albergo Diffuso and SPA is an exclusive facility. With 12 rooms in the central building and 16 historic homes dotted along cobbled alleys, it is the only scattered hotel in the Luxury Bike Hotels collection, and is just 15 minutes from Spoleto, 40 from Norcia and Assisi, and 50 from Perugia. The Torre del Nera organizes mountain bike and e-bike excursions to explore the stunning green landscapes of the region, including itineraries through the lush woods of the Valnerina, leading up to the Marmore waterfalls which are the highest in Europe.
An ideal wellness retreat and local products
Nested within the ancient walls of the village, the Luxury Bike Hotel in Scheggino has an ideal wellness retreat, the Torre del Nera SPA which has a swimming pool, hydromassage, waterfalls, massages, and personalised treatments. The Locanda del Cavaliere restaurant features local olive oil, cured meats and the famous lentils of Castelluccio.
Published in On the road
ITA Airways is abandoning London’s Heathrow airport to focus on London City and Gatwick.
A220-100 flights from Rome Fiumicino
From 31 March the Italian airline will no longer fly to the UK’s main airport and will focus its operations, initially, on London City with seven daily frequencies, five from Milan Linate and two from Rome Fiumicino, operated with Airbus A220-100s. Subsequently, starting from June 2024, ITA Airways will also fly to Gatwick Airport, with daily frequencies also from Rome Fiumicino.
Slots at London Heathrow do not come cheap
This decision is essentially due to the chronic lack of slots at Heathrow. The slots that have been used so far by the Italian airline were not in fact owned by it, and renting them certainly does not come cheap. Flying into London City Airport passengers will find that it is the ideal and logistically most convenient airport to reach the city centre, both by taxi and public transport, which makes it a favourite with business travellers.
Published in Transportation
Best Western Hotel dei Mille is the Bwh Group's new property in Naples.
The hotel is perfect for business and leisure clients
All rooms in the 45-key hotel in the Piazza Garibaldi railway station area, have undergone a radical renovation, and the final touches to the public areas are now being completed. Ideal for the business and MICE target group, the Best Western Hotel dei Mille is also popular with leisure customers. With this new entry, the group's presence in the city of Naples rises to five, and it has a total of twelve hotels in the Campania region.
“The global resonance that comes with the brand”
“Thanks to our experience with the Best Western JFK, which is close to the football stadium, and the great support and excellent business relations with the Bwh Group, there is also the global resonance that comes with the brand,- says Cosimo Ilardo, owner of the Best Western Hotel dei Mille. - With this new hotel we have moved into a central and strategic area of Naples.”
Published in Hospitality
Rome’s Fiumicino and Ciampino airports are poised to set a new record in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Remarkable end-of-year numbers
This optimistic forecast is baes on 2023 figures which saw the combined passenger traffic at Rome’s two airports reach 44.4 million passengers. Fiumicino, with 40.5 million passengers, scored a remarkable 38% increase over 2022, while Ciampino handled 3.9 million passengers. The positive momentum is expected to continue "with a further leap forward in 2024 compared to 2019.”. Fiumicino's success is thanks to non-European and European traffic, which posted growth rates of "+76% and +30%" respectively.
The fastest growth in flights
The recovery of air travel, especially thanks to Asia and mainland China, has played a significant role. As has the North American market with up to 34 daily flights, of which 11 to New York. Rome Fiumicino positioned itself as the third European airport, following London and Paris on New York routes, and is among the airports with the fastest growth to North America. In February 2024 the airport is expected to have up to 73 flights a week, a 70% increase over February 2019.
Many new destinations
ITA Airways will add new destinations in summer 2024 (Chicago, Toronto, Riyadh, Accra, Dakar, Jeddah, and Kuwait City), and point-to-point airlines like Ryanair and Wizz Air, will launch new routes on short and medium-haul markets. The growth will also be thanks to SunExpress with flights to Izmir, Eurowings to Hanover and Nuremberg, Volotea to Brest, and Jet2.com to Edinburgh.
Published in Transportation
Ryanair has designated Trieste as its new base in Italy, and added five new routes.
Trieste set for 750,000 passengers
Adding a Boeing 737 8-200 in April, the choice of the new base means a substantial investment of €100 million and a network expansion to 16 routes. With five new destinations: Berlin, Brindisi, Krakow, Paris, and Seville, Ryanair forecasts a 50% growth in traffic and approximately 750,000 passengers.
“Trieste is one of the most strategic airports for Ryanair”
“For the first time in Italy we say goodbye to the municipal surcharge: Friuli Venezia Giulia is the first region to do this and allows us to open a new gamechanger base in Trieste starting in April 2024. Trieste is now one of the most strategic airports for Ryanair, and will be one of the most competitive in Italy and Europe,” said CEO Eddie Wilson.
“The choice to remove the tax is a winning one”
“We will be able to launchmore competitive pricing policies because we will be more flexible. The innovative choice of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region and its choice to remove the tax is a winning one. We hope it opens a path that other regions will follow,” added Wilson.
Published in Transportation
easyJet is to connect the city of Geneva with Bari thanks to the introduction of a new summer flight, which will operate from 4 May.
Two weekly flights, and three from June to August
With two weekly frequencies (Tuesdays and Saturdays) the flights will be operated in May, June, September and October, while three weekly frequencies (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) will be scheduled between 26 June and 30 August.
“The Swiss market is among the first for the Apulian airport network,- said the president of Aeroporti di Puglia, Antonio Maria Vasile. - The announcement of the new route comes in response to the strong demand for connections not only from the tourist sector, but also increasingly from business travellers. We are confident of a positive response from customers, thanks to the fast and efficient connections these flights bring to our communities".
“The new route comes in response to the strong demand”
“The Geneva flights which complete and enriche the network of Swiss cities directly connected to our airports, will represent a great opportunity for the large Apulian community residing in Switzerland, but also - Vasile concluded - for Apulians who decide to visit this beautiful city.”
The new flights, which are already on sale, confirm Puglia's great vitality and growing appeal, and not only in terms of tourism, on markets that are affirming themselves both in terms of arrivals and overnights.
Published in Transportation
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