As predicted on the Alghero property blog over 14 months ago (Why Ryanair is here to stay) it has today been officially announced that Ryanair will make a significant investment into Alghero Airport. From March 2009 Ryanair will open it’s sixth Italian base at Alghero International Airport.

The new base will massively increase the number of visitors to the Alghero area. Ryanair predict they will carry more than 1.2 million passenger in 2009 which is the nearly the total of all passengers expected in 2008 from over 10 carriers.

Today’s announcement will create 1,200 jobs at the airport by increasing the number of direct routes operating from Alghero from the current 11 routes to a new high of 18 routes. One new route to note is Alghero to Cagliari which will link the North and South of the island with the flight expected to take less than 20 minuets.

This announcement will give a welcome bounce to the local tourist industry and subsequent real estate market on the West Coast of Sardinia.