From November 'discounted' flights from Comiso airport

The countdown began at the beginning of August. All this in view of November, the month in which territorial continuity flights will be launched from Comiso airport in the province of Ragusa. The total investment to guarantee territorial continuity at Comiso is estimated at 25.5 million euros, 60% of which is covered by funds from the Sicilian Region, the rest by state resources.

The tender was won by Aeroitalia, which will guarantee two flights a day to and from Rome (the tender envisaged a carrier of at least 240 seats in total between round trips) at a subsidised rate of 38 euros, excluding taxes, and one flight a day to and from Milan Linate at a subsidised rate of 50 euros, excluding taxes. For the Ragusa airport controlled by Sac, the Catania airport management company whose managing director is Nico Torrisi, territorial continuity, which will last three years, represents a thread of hope even if everyone is aware that it is not a solution to the area's demands and needs. According to the details provided by the Sicilian Region, the fares, predetermined without seasonal variations, will be as follows (taxes included) Comiso-Rome Fiumicino: €56.02; Rome Fiumicino-Comiso €72.84; Comiso-Milan Linate €68.02; Milan Linate-Comiso €78.12. The ticket includes hand bag or backpack, hand luggage up to 10 kg and checked-in luggage up to 23 kg, free check-in and unlimited changes at no extra cost, with additional discounts for children, students, pensioners and health travellers. Children from zero to two years travel free of charge. "With the launch of territorial continuity from Comiso airport," emphasised the President of the Region, Renato Schifani, "we are finally guaranteeing the citizens of eastern Sicily the right to mobility with certain fares, inclusive services and constant connections to Rome and Milan. This result is the result of a joint effort between the State and the Region, with the general aim of relaunching the airport for which, together with Sac and the municipal administration, we are also working to create an important cargo area that will allow the further development of trade in products from the area. The regional government is transforming the Comiso terminal into a modern and efficient infrastructure capable of supporting the economic, tourist, and social growth of the entire area'.

The airline that won the territorial continuity tender, whose managing director is Gaetano Intrieri, in alternating phases is perhaps the only one to have shown real interest in the Hyblean airport and responded positively even when it came to guaranteeing connections at least for part of the summer, thanks also to the financial backing of the Ragusa Consortium: from 25 July to 8 September, in the height of the summer season, 5,648 passengers were transported to and from the Hyblean airport.648 passengers, confirming travellers' interest in the destination and the airport's role as a reference point for south-eastern Sicily. In detail, passengers transported on the Milan Bergamo routes were 2,880, and on Rome Fiumicino 2,768. "We look to the future with confidence, in view of the start of territorial continuity on 1 November next, which will ensure regular and indispensable connections for citizens and businesses - underlines Aeroitalia's management -. The territorial continuity will be a further growth engine for the Hyblean area, and Aeroitalia intends to be at the side of the local community". These figures, reads a note, 'are part of an excellent overall season for the airline, which between June and August 2025 carried a total of 891,542 passengers. In Sicily alone there were 200,000 travellers, with an average load factor of around 80%'.

It remains to be seen, meanwhile, what the results will be of the other two calls for tenders designed to bring airlines back to these parts: a three-million euro call for tenders issued by the Libero consortium of Ragusa has been discontinued and the offices are working on a second one (one carrier (Volotea) participated for one lot and a second carrier has requested an extension); for the South-East Chamber of Commerce's call for tenders the deadline for submitting proposals expired in the last few days. Sac's managing director is optimistic: 'The numbers recorded by Aeroitalia confirm the potential of Comiso airport, on which Sac intends to continue to invest with conviction,' says Torrisi. 'Our priority is to strengthen the role of the Hyblean airport as a strategic infrastructure for the territory, capable of generating value and growth opportunities. The start-up of territorial continuity will be a further step towards guaranteeing stable connections and services ever closer to the needs of the citizens and businesses of south-eastern Sicily".

"An important goal," adds the regional councillor for Infrastructure and Mobility, Alessandro Aricò, "achieved also thanks to the commitment of the officials and managers of my department, who have succeeded in deploying substantial resources to support flights and reduce travel inequalities. We are not stopping at air transport, however, because we are investing in upgrading some strategic local infrastructures: 25 million euros in an integrated project to improve state roads 114 and 115, making access to the airport easier, and a further 1.6 million euros for work on Via degli Aragonesi, a fundamental link between the city centre, the airport, and the main sites of interest in the area'.