Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) is "very interested" in acquiring additional slots at Rome Fiumicino which are likely to be relinquished as a condition for Lufthansa Group's takeover of ITA Airways (AZ, Rome Fiumicino), Ryanair Holdings Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said during a press conference in Italy.

The Irish low-cost carrier is already the second-largest operator at Fiumicino with an 11.1% market share by weekly scheduled departure capacity. It has announced plans to add five new routes from the airport during the Summer 2024 season (Dubrovnik, Gothenburg Landvetter, Lisbon, Malta International, and Paris Beauvais), but is looking at even more rapid growth with the potential new slots.

Ryanair also serves Rome Ciampino, where it dominates the market with a 91.5% market share by capacity.

O'Leary said Ryanair is less interested in slots at Milan Linate, the second airport subject to the likely compensatory measures ordered by the European Commission. The LCC is focussed on growing its presence at Milan Bergamo and Milan Malpensa airports. It does not currently serve Linate. In contrast, rivals Wizz Air (W6, Budapest) and easyJet have said they are keen on expanding their currently limited access to high-yielding but slot-constrained Linate.