It’s an accepted fact that the North West coast of Sardinia and in particular the Alghero area have significantly benefited since the arrival of low cost airline Ryanair back in the year 2000. Single handedly Ryanair marketed the beautiful island of Sardinia to the rest of Europe and in doing so Alghero’s economy has boomed.

Here are some astonishing facts:

1. In the year 1999 less than 590,000 passengers passed through Alghero Airport. We expect to see 1,300,000 passengers this year, up 21% on 2006.

2. In 1999 over 80% of passengers were Italian nationals. In 2007 we expect to see international passengers to accounting for more than 60% of total passengers.

3. Since 2000 Ryanair have been responsible for the employment of over 400 Sardinians directly and countless thousands more indirectly in the growing hotel and catering tourism industry.

The Alghero Estates team are often asked our opinion on the Ryanair factor and if they will continue flying to Alghero for the mid to long term. It’s a valid question, remember the acquisition of Dutch low cost airline Buzz purchased in 2003 by Ryanair. This resulted in the discontinuation of a number of routes to small airports in France leaving thousands of non-resident homeowners stranded.

In answer to the all-important question “is Ryanair here to stay” we answer with a resounding YES and here’s why.

1. Ryanair passenger figures are growing year on year and as such Ryanair continue to add new direct routes.

2. Alghero is the 5th most downloaded travel guide on the Ryanair website.

3. Ryanair is also listed on the Irish and NASDAQ stock market and as such has cash for further expansion and are now less likely to be acquired by a competitor.

4. It is public knowledge that at some point in the near future Ryanair will announce Alghero Airport as the next Mediterranean base. This announcement will come on the back of huge financial investment in Alghero Airport which forms part of the requirements and conditions for a Ryanair base:

2002 - opening of the new terminal building increasing the number of check in desks from 2 to 18.

2004 - 22 million euro investment in runway infrastructure to facilitate larger plans and more concurrent air traffic.

2006 - regional agreement to invest in new road infrastructure from the airport to Alghero centre.

2007 - talks of a strategic underground rail link from Alghero Airport to Alghero centre and Sassari.

However probably one of the most overlooked reasons is that for the first time Sardinians have the opportunity to take a weekend break in London, Barcelona and a vast array of other European destinations for the price of a meal out.

You will, for sure, read in the press in the future protests from the likes of Alitalia and AirOne against Ryanair. However I and thousands of Sardinians still remember having to pay over 500 euros to get a flight from Alghero to London via Rome or Milan with a four to eight hour wait in the middle.

The opportunity for young Sardinians to travel and see life beyond Sardinia is a great thing and one of the most compelling reasons for the local and regional government to continue supporting the phenomenon that is the Ryanair effect.