Italian aviation faces expansion debates and rising fuel costs

The Italian aviation sector is facing scrutiny regarding both environmental expansion and economic sustainability. Europa Verde has called for a re-evaluation of the development plans for Orio al Serio Airport, citing the example of Bologna's Marconi Airport. While Orio al Serio continues its growth trajectory, Bologna recently halted plans to increase passenger capacity from 11 million to 15 million to mitigate environmental and acoustic pressures on the territory.

Separately, Aeroitalia CEO Gaetano Intrieri has highlighted the growing pressure that rising fuel costs place on airline profitability. Speaking at a conference in Milan, Intrieri emphasized that while operational efficiency is necessary, it is insufficient to combat energy market volatility. He called for concrete European measures to stabilize jet fuel supplies and suggested a reform of airport tariffs, including the implementation of the ‘single till’ model, to protect passengers from cost increases and ensure the continuity of national flight connections.