From the resumption of operations last December to the basing of two Airbus A321neo aircraft: in less than two months, Palermo becomes Wizz Air’s 39th base worldwide. A new and significant milestone in the airline’s growth in Italy, enabling Wizz Air to reach a market share of more than 10% and become the second-largest airline in the country by market share.
The announcement was made today in Palermo during a joint press conference held by Wizz Air and GESAP, the management company of Palermo Falcone Borsellino International Airport. In the presence of the Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, Wizz Air’s Chief Commercial Officer Ian Malin and GESAP’s Chief Executive Officer Gianfranco Battisti presented the airline’s new development plan for the Palermo airport.
Starting from 1 August 2026, Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport will host two start-of-the-art Wizz Air aircraft, allowing the airline to strengthen its operations at the airport on a stable basis and significantly expand its network. From Palermo, Wizz Air will operate ten routes to seven countries.
The expansion from Palermo primarily focuses on strengthening domestic connectivity, designed to meet the concrete mobility needs of Sicilian residents, particularly for work, study and family reunification.
From 1 August 2026, Wizz Air will operate the Palermo–Milan Malpensa route with a double daily service (14 weekly frequencies), alongside Palermo–Bologna with 11 weekly flights and Palermo–Venice with 10 weekly flights. The domestic offering is completed by the Palermo–Turin route, operated with a daily frequency starting from 4 May 2026. All new domestic routes are already on sale on wizzair.com and via the official WIZZ app, with fares starting from €14.99, confirming the airline’s pricing strategy of making air travel an accessible and consistent option on routes of high territorial relevance.
Alongside the domestic expansion, Wizz Air is also strengthening its international offering from Palermo to support leisure demand. From 1 August 2026, the new Palermo–Tel Aviv route will operate with three weekly flights (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday), while from 2 August 2026 the Palermo–Sharm El Sheikh route will launch with four weekly frequencies (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday). Both international routes are already on sale with fares starting from €39.99, significantly expanding travel opportunities to highly attractive destinations and further strengthening Palermo Airport’s position in the tourism segment.
The airline’s investment has been made possible thanks to a long-term, structured partnership with GESAP, and represents a key step in the development of Sicily’s air connectivity. Basing aircraft at Palermo allows Wizz Air to strengthen its operations, improving frequencies, reliability and year-round connectivity for passengers and the local territory.
With Palermo rejoining the WIZZ base network, Wizz Air’s operations at the airport will grow significantly. In 2026, the airline plans to offer nearly 1 million seats, with a capacity increase of more than 200% compared to today. The basing of two aircraft will also ensure greater operational stability and continuity throughout the year. Furthermore, this development strengthens Wizz Air’s position in the national market, allowing the airline to reach over than 10% market share and become Italy’s second-largest airline by market share.
Beyond traffic growth, the investment delivers tangible benefits to the local economy, contributing to the creation of 80 direct jobs and 700 additional jobs across the wider supply chain, supporting the tourism, logistics and services sectors. This represents a concrete contribution that reinforces Palermo Airport’s role as a strategic infrastructure for regional development.
“Re-establishing our base in Palermo is a direct result of the impressive performance we’ve seen since December and the strength of our partnership with GESAP,” said Ian Malin, Chief Commercial Officer of Wizz Air. “By basing two aircraft here, we are answering a clear demand for more frequent, affordable connections. Whether traveling for business, education or simply to return home, our Sicilian passengers will now benefit from even more choice and fares starting from just €14.99. As Italy’s second largest airline, we continue to put the needs of our passengers at the heart of our growth. Amunì Palermo, Let’s WIZZ!”.
“The opening of the Wizz Air base in Palermo represents a result of extraordinary strategic importance for our airport and for Sicily as a whole,” said Gianfranco Battisti, Chief Executive Officer of GESAP, the management company of Palermo Falcone Borsellino International Airport. “The decision to base two latest-generation aircraft at Palermo Airport confirms the strength of the industrial path undertaken by GESAP and structurally strengthens the region’s air connectivity. A base means year-round operational continuity,” Battisti continued, “an increase in frequencies, greater service reliability and a broader, more accessible network of connections designed to meet the mobility needs of residents, businesses and tourists. At the same time, the investment generates skilled employment and a positive economic impact on the local supply chain. The long-term partnership with Wizz Air allows Palermo Airport to diversify its airline portfolio,” the GESAP CEO concluded, “reduce seasonality and consolidate its role as a strategic Mediterranean infrastructure capable of supporting economic development, tourism attractiveness and sustainable growth in the medium to long term.”
“Wizz Air’s decision to establish Palermo as a strategic base represents a fundamental step for the future of our airport and the city,” says Roberto Lagalla, Mayor of Palermo. “The basing of two aircraft and the expansion of routes, especially international ones, strengthen Palermo’s role as a gateway to the Mediterranean. This agreement consolidates a path of increasingly decisive openness to European and international markets, enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of the area,”the Mayor continues. “Falcone Borsellino Airport is confirmed as a key infrastructure for the economic, tourism and employment development of western Sicily. This result is the outcome of a shared vision and effective collaboration between institutions and operators.”
Wizz Air has been operating in Italy since 2004 and continues to invest in the country, which is its largest market by passenger carried within its European network and beyond. In 2026, the airline plans to offer over 27 million seats in Italy, with a network of six bases including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice, Catania, Naples and Palermo, nearly 280 routes to 33 countries, and 33 Airbus A321neo aircraft based.
NEW ROUTES FROM PALERMO
| ROUTES | FREQUENCY | STARTING FROM | 1STFLIGHT |
|---|---|---|---|
| PALERMO - TURIN | Daily | 14,99€ | 4 May 2026 |
| PALERMO - BOLOGNA | 11 weekly | 14,99€ | 1 August 2026 |
| PALERMO - VENICE | 10 weekly | 14,99€ | 1 August 2026 |
| PALERMO - MILAN MALPENSA | 14 weekly | 14,99€ | 1 August 2026 |
| PALERMO - SHARM EL SHEIKH | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday | 39,99€ | 2 August 2026 |
| PALERMO - TEL AVIV | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | 39,99€ | 1 August 2026 |
Tags: Ian Malin, Wizz Air Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport
