Analysis and long term strategy of the secondary south-western airport of Trapani-Birgi

As already mentioned, the rapid growth of traffic in Trapani Birgi airport has to be led back to the positive effects of Ryanair. The increase in demand for air transport from Sicilian citizens and tourist wishing to visit Sicily, has meant that there have been enhanced opportunities for Trapani airport to develop innovative and aggressive market strategies so to reap some of the benefits from this demand.

The most significant change came in May 2009 when Ryanair decided to make Trapani its seventh Italian base and began operating 18 routes, expecting 1.3 mill passengers a year and being indirect cause of more than 1000 jobs locally.
Gradually Trapani airport is becoming vital to the growth of business and industry in the province by providing air access for companies that must meet the demands of supply, competition and expanding marketing areas.

In addition to this, Trapani airport stimulates the economy indirectly thought the use of local services for food catering, ground transportation on and around the airport. Regular purchases of fuel, supplies, equipment and other services from local distributors injected additional income into the local community. Beyond this, the airport has become a significant factor in the determination of real estate values in adjacent areas.

The Province of Trapani started understanding that a viable and efficient air transportation system is a fundamental and necessary component to the economy of its region as the main gateway for the surrounding community between many major metropolitan areas. More tourism can also represent substantial revenue for hotels, restaurants, retails stores, sports and night clubs, sightseeing a rental cars.