Cheap flights 'vital' for southern Italy

No frills flights are sustaining tourism across southern areas of Italy, the Global Property Group said today.

Director Mike Dunkerley said that affordable access to the region was "tremendously important," and could lead to a repeat of the success story of low cost carriers opening up Spanish destinations to tourists.

Commenting on Ryanair's recently introduced direct route from London Stansted Airport to Lamezia, Mr Dunkerley said: "That is a huge benefit because they're discounted flights.

"Out of season you can get £50 returns, whereas if you're using the conventional airlines - it used to have to be Alitalia - you would be looking at £300, £400."

The chief executive of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, recently lambasted the Italian air transport authority (ENAC) for cutting flights to Ciampino, in what he said was an attempt to protect the underperforming national carrier Alitalia.

"Over the past year, ENAC has tried in various illegal ways to limit low flight prices and the possibilities of choice offered by low cost airlines at Roma Ciampino," he said.

Regulatory body ENAC, however, insisted that the move was made in response to noise and pollution complaints by local residents.