Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, wrote a letter and telephoned the Italian company Alitalia offering the so-called "feederage" of Ryanair domestic flights for their services and in particular for long-haul routes.
In practice, the Irish company would make its network of domestic flights available to feed the long-haul flights of the former national airline. To facilitate the operation, the low-cost airline will open a base from 18 December in Rome's Fiumicino airport where, in 2014, all domestic Ryanair flights and flights to other cities will be transferred.
O'Leary offered to carry Alitalia passengers at fares starting at 50 euros one way, requesting a meeting with the Italian company "to discuss any other opportunities there may be to collaborate and assist Alitalia in its current restructuring". The other new bases in Italy will be Catania, Palermo and Lamezia.
However, the Irish carrier confirms its intention to further develop traffic on Rome-Ciampino, assuming "the shifting of current flights from Bari and Brindisi to Fiumicino next year and freeing up slots for other international flights".
