According to Istat data on "Air transport in Italy", the share of passengers transported on low-cost flights doubled between 2003 and 2011, rising from 23% to 46%. Looking at 2011 alone, the share rose by two percentage points compared to 2010. However, there is a reduction in the share of low-cost flights operated by Italian carriers, which goes from 30% in 2010 to 28%.
The most popular low cost destinations operated by Italian carriers are Sharm El Sheikh Ophira (273 passengers), Marsa Alam (169 passengers) and London Gatwick (122 passengers).
The traditional Italian carriers are paying for the expansion of low-cost flights, the use of which fell, between 2007 and 2011, from 56% to 40%, again according to Istat data. In 2003 the share was 66%. Italy, with a share of European transport equal to 9,6%, ranks fifth in the EU for the number of passengers transported, after the United Kingdom (16,5%), Germany (14,5%), Spain (13,5%) and France (10,9%).
