The latest Aviation Week route bulletin dated 24 September brings several Italy-related developments. Low-cost carrier Volotea inaugurated twice-weekly flights from Seville and San Sebastián to Florence, its first international link from the Basque city and a further sign that secondary Spanish and Italian airports are recovering corporate traffic. Saudi start-up Riyadh Air confirmed that its maiden Italian destination will be Milan Malpensa, with four Boeing 787-9 rotations a week from 16 December. The move puts the newcomer head-to-head with Flynas and positions Milan as a hub for onward traffic to northern Italy’s industrial corridor. Analysts at consultancy Roland Berger estimate that Gulf-Italy capacity will be 19 % above 2019 levels by Q1 2027, driven by petrochemicals and renewable-energy project travel. For human-resources teams, the extra lift means more options for assignment rotations and better eligibility for A1 social-security certificates on short-cycle postings. Companies should, however, monitor visa-lead-times: Saudi citizens need Schengen visas, while Italian business travellers require an e-visa for the Kingdom; processing volumes tend to spike after new routes open.
Source: Aviation Week
