Christmas is approaching and expensive flights are once again the protagonist of travel . Ticket prices are starting to rise again, particularly as regards the islands and there are some routes that have already crossed the threshold of 500 euros per person in economy class.
Assoutenti speaks of a real "drain" for families and the Codacons calls for urgent intervention from the Antitrust , given that the recent discussions at Mimit and the opening of a fact-finding investigation do not seem to have resolved the problem.
«We have provided the Antitrust with the tools to act - explains the Minister of Business and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso - and the investigation launched is the demonstration that our decree law (the Asset decree, ed.) and the rules in it contained are working."
The Sicily Region intervened with a 50 percent discount on tickets but only for residents . Today, those who want to purchase an economy class trip to fly to Sicily during the holidays, leaving on 23 December and returning on Sunday 7 January, and are willing to board at any time (even early morning or late evening) find themselves having to spend up to 521 euros (round trip) starting from Bologna and landing in Palermo, or 465 euros if going to Catania. From Turin to Catania, on the same dates, at least 446 euros are needed, 441 euros from Pisa to Catania, 439 euros from Verona to Palermo. The Genoa-Catania flight is also above 400 euros (from 404 euros per person), while from Milan to Palermo you need at least 399 euros per passenger, but you can spend up to 706 euros depending on the time and the chosen company.
Sardinia also turns out to be among the most affected by the price increases: to reach Cagliari starting from Pisa the minimum cost for the return ticket (on the same dates 23 December/7 January) is 395 euros, if you leave from Bologna 381 euros , from Venice 345 euros, from Turin 297 euros. Prices which however do not consider the additional costs for hand luggage or the choice of seat.
«Moving around Italy during the holidays is increasingly a drain that empties citizens' pockets - explains the president of Assoutenti Furio Truzzi - an emergency that recurs every year and which seems without a solution. And precisely the high cost of flights - he recalls - will be one of the themes at the center of Consumer Expo 2023, an annual event where institutions, politics and companies interact with consumers, and which this year will be held in Naples from 12 to 14 December and will see protagonists are government representatives, big names in politics and leading companies in various sectors." Codacons therefore appeals to the Antitrust «to issue, as it has done in recent days for much less relevant issues, emergency precautionary measures in the air transport sector aimed at blocking the algorithms that cause flight fares to the islands to soar in the Christmas and New Year periods, and counter the speculation that regularly harms users at this time of year."
