Bournemouth Airport is set to welcome a brand-new route to Sicily after Ryanair announced plans for a major new base in Italy.
The budget airline confirmed on 24 September that it will open a new base at Trapani-Marsala Airport, located on the western tip of Sicily. The base is due to open on 26 January 2026, becoming Ryanair’s third in Sicily and its 20th across Italy.
As part of the launch, Ryanair will introduce direct flights between Bournemouth and Trapani, connecting Dorset with the popular Mediterranean island for the very first time.
A Ryanair spokesperson confirmed:
“We’ll be operating Bournemouth – Trapani as part of our Summer 2026 schedule, which begins on the last Sunday of March.
“The flights are not yet available to book on our website, but we plan to operate two return flights per week.”
The new Trapani base will initially serve 23 destinations, including 11 brand-new routes to cities such as Baden-Baden, Bari, Bratislava, Brussels, Katowice, London, Pescara, Saarbrücken, Stockholm, Verona – and Bournemouth.
Ryanair described the move as a “major investment” aimed at boosting tourism and accessibility to western Sicily.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said:
“As Europe and Italy’s No.1 airline, we are delighted to announce this major investment at Trapani-Marsala.
“By connecting Trapani directly with nine countries – including the UK – and key Italian cities like Milan, Rome, and Pisa, this new base will enhance year-round connectivity, support tourism growth, and bring sustained economic benefits to the region.”
Bournemouth Airport’s Biggest-Ever Schedule
The new Sicily service means Ryanair will offer 21 destinations from Bournemouth Airport in 2026, marking its largest schedule ever from the airport.
This comes after Ryanair added three new routes for its Summer 2025 schedule earlier this year, with flights to Chania and Rhodes in Greece, plus Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. These routes, which began in June 2025, also run twice weekly.
The expansion has been supported by significant local investment, including two new aircraft based permanently at Bournemouth Airport.
When to Book
While the Bournemouth–Trapani flights are not yet on sale, they are expected to appear on Ryanair’s website later this year, giving local travellers the chance to plan trips to Sicily for summer 2026.
