Ryanair (FR, Dublin International) has neither confirmed nor denied an Italian news report that it is planning to open a new base in Trieste.

In an interview with Nordest Economia earlier this month, airport chairman Antonio Marano claimed the Irish budget carrier planned to base one aircraft out of the northeastern Italian airfield.

On inquiry, a Ryanair spokesperson said: “We are always interested in opening new bases which are dependent on demand, available aircraft capacity, competitive low airport costs and required operational needs being met. We continue to actively review all potential future base candidates, but competition for Ryanair capacity remains fierce given we are the only major airline growing in Europe.”

Ryanair already holds almost 57% market share at Trieste in terms of weekly airline seat capacity, the ch-aviation Commercial Aviation Operator Capacity Data module shows. Its competitors at the airport include ITA - Italia Trasporto Aereo (25% market share), Lufthansa (11.6%), and AlbaStar (4.3%).

Ryanair already has bases at Turin Caselle, Bologna, Pisa, Pescara, Rome Ciampino, Rome Fiumicino, Naples Capodichino, Bari, Brindisi, Lamezia Terme, Catania, and Palermo International, according to its website.