Volotea Summer 2026: more direct connections between European cities and new leisure routes from Italy
With Summer 2026 now in full operation, Volotea strengthens its presence in Italy with a strategy that combines accessibility, direct connections and increasing attention to the passenger experience. The company continues to stand out for its ability to immediately connect Italian and European cities, intercepting demand for seaside destinations, islands, great classics of Mediterranean tourism and ideal destinations even for short urban stays.
In this interview, Valeria Rebasti, International Market Director of Volotea, tells how the company's offer in the Italian market is evolving: from the new routes of the summer season already underway to the centrality of the operational bases, up to assistance services, flexibility programs and objectives on the sustainability front.
A focus that restores the profile of a carrier that is increasingly rooted in Italy and careful to offer a direct, practical way of traveling that is close to the real needs of passengers.
During Summer 2026, how many countries will be served by Volotea's network and how many destinations will your route network include?
"For Summer 2026 in Italy, Volotea will connect 8 countries and serve 167 routes, with a strong concentration of connections to the leisure destinations most requested by European travellers. In particular, a significant part of the offer will be focused on Spain, Greece and Italy, three markets that continue to record high demand especially for seaside tourism. Alongside these, the network will also include numerous destinations in France and other highly popular European cities, offering passengers a wide choice of destinations between culture and major cities. Our model allows us to offer direct connections to iconic destinations and at the same time to less served locations, making it easier and more immediate to reach some of the most attractive destinations on the European scene".
The Italian market continues to be strategic for Volotea. What are the company's operational bases in Italy today and from which airports do you operate?
"We are present in 23 Italian airports, of which 7 are operational bases – Florence, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Venice, Verona and Bari – to which is added a widespread presence throughout the country. In fact, we also operate from Alghero, Ancona, Bologna, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Comiso, Genoa, Lampedusa, Milan Bergamo, Milan Linate, Pantelleria, Pisa, Rome Fiumicino, Salerno and Turin, helping to strengthen connectivity between regions and with the rest of Europe. Overall, we connect Italy with 56 European cities in 8 countries. Our model is based on a balanced mix of leisure routes and connections designed to support business and return traffic, while generating a significant employment impact: about 430 direct jobs and over 2,400 indirect jobs on the national territory".
What are the new destinations that Volotea will launch from Italy for Summer 2026 and from which airports?
"For Summer 2026 we are focusing in particular on highly attractive destinations such as Greece and Spain, which continue to record a very strong demand from Italian Travellers, flanked by some European cities particularly in demand for city breaks. 5 new connections will depart from Verona to Aalborg, Karpathos, Malaga, Menorca and Athens. Added to these is the restart of the connection to Comiso. Venice will also be the protagonist with new flights to Greece – Corfu and Rhodes – as well as the connection to Murcia, Spain. From Sardinia, on the other hand, the novelties will be the Olbia-Seville and Alghero-Lyon connections. Looking ahead to the end of the season, Florence will see the introduction of connections to Seville, Strasbourg, Berlin and Valencia, while the route to Oviedo, Asturias, will be operational from 31 March".
What assistance do you provide for passengers before, during and after the flight?
"Our approach is strongly "client conscious": we put the needs of passengers at the center, accompanying them at every stage of the journey with an attentive but always discreet service. We constantly invest in all touchpoints of the customer experience, from booking to post-flight, with the aim of making every interaction simple, fluid and accessible. We have a dedicated call center for passengers who can request assistance at every stage of the experience with us".
Does Volotea use artificial intelligence solutions to improve the passenger experience? In what areas are they applied and what benefits do they bring to travellers?
"Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly central role in improving the passenger experience, particularly in the area of customer service. At Volotea, we use AI-powered voice agents, available 24/7, that interact with passengers using natural language to resolve concerns and queries quickly, offering a first level of assistance. These solutions allow us to offer a more efficient, personalized and accessible service, significantly improving the speed of response and the overall quality of the travel experience".
What is Volotea's fleet like today and what services are available on board for passengers, including those included in the fare and optional paid services?
"For 2026, we will operate a fleet of approximately 45-46 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, a choice that reflects our commitment to operational efficiency, comfort and sustainability. On board, passengers can count on spacious cabins, reclining seats wider than the European average and overhead bins with greater capacity. We also offer a free digital entertainment service accessible via Wi-Fi, with content designed for all types of Travellers. The experience is also enriched by "Voices on Board", with suggestions and curiosities about the destination, testifying to our attention to detail and the overall quality of the trip".
The topic of luggage is central for many travellers: what are the main features of your policy and how does it facilitate the organisation of passengers' travel?
"Our baggage policy is designed to ensure flexibility and transparency, allowing passengers to pay only for the services they really need. All travellers can bring a small piece of luggage on board free of charge to be placed under the seat, a solution chosen by around 50 million passengers in Europe. The addition of a trolley or checked luggage is optional, allowing you to maintain competitive rates. This choice avoids imposing additional costs on those who prefer to travel light and also helps to make boarding operations more efficient, avoiding delays related to the handling of luggage in the cabin. In addition, loyalty programs such as Megavolotea offer additional benefits and flexibility on this front as well".
What advantages do the Megavolotea and Flex Plan services offer passengers and what feedback do they record, particularly in the Italian market?
"Megavolotea is our loyalty program designed for those who fly frequently with Volotea and want an even more complete experience. The program offers concrete benefits such as dedicated discounts on the purchase of flights, priority boarding and checked baggage, as well as the possibility – subject to availability – to bring a 10 kg carry-on bag into the cabin free of charge. There are also discounts of up to 25% on seat selection and up to 15% on checked baggage. A particularly appreciated element is that the benefits are not limited to the cardholder alone, but can be extended up to four companions per booking, making the program ideal for families and groups of friends as well. In addition, members receive €20 of Volotea credit on their birthday and can make unlimited date changes at no additional cost, except for any fare differences. Everything is enriched by reserved offers and exclusive promotions available throughout the year. The Flex program, on the other hand, allows you to make unlimited changes on flights without paying the change fee, all this up to 4 hours before flight departure. In addition, in the event of cancellation of the trip, passengers receive a refund in the form of Volotea credit".
What are Volotea's most recent initiatives in terms of sustainability and CO₂ emission reduction?
"Sustainability is at the heart of our strategy and is embodied in the Voloterra program, through which we have implemented, over the years, over 50 initiatives to reduce our environmental impact, including fleet renewal, the introduction of advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency and the increase in the use of sustainable fuels (SAF), in which we are investing together with industrial partners, such as Enilive. Thanks to these actions, we have already achieved a 51% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions per passenger-kilometre compared to 2012, ahead of the initial targets. Looking ahead, we aim for a reduction of between 55% and 60% by 2030".
In an increasingly competitive market, why should a passenger choose to fly with Volotea today? What are the distinctive elements that make your company more attractive in the eyes of travellers?
"Volotea stands out for its unique business model: we directly connect small and medium-sized cities, often unserved or poorly served, offering exclusive routes and more efficient connectivity. This is accompanied by a strong focus on the quality of service, both on the ground and on board, with increasingly streamlined processes at airports and a travel experience with attention to detail. The results prove us right: satisfaction levels are among the highest in Europe, with a particularly high Net Promoter Score (NPS) - the benchmark used by the airline industry to measure passenger satisfaction - and more than 90% of customers would recommend Volotea. This confirms our ability to combine competitive rates, quality and customer care".
Interview by Angela Trivigno
