Ryanair Adds Nine New UK Links to Emilia Romagna Gems

Ryanair is expanding its footprint in northern Italy for summer 2026 with nine new routes into Emilia Romagna, bringing more affordable links from the UK to a trio of smaller regional airports that serve some of the country’s most under-the-radar coastal resorts, art cities and food destinations.

New Routes Put Forlì, Parma and Rimini on UK Travellers’ Maps

According to information published by the Emilia Romagna regional administration and aviation industry outlets, Ryanair’s new summer 2026 schedule will add routes at Forlì, Parma and Rimini airports, taking the total number of services across the three gateways to 20. Reports indicate that the move follows the regional decision to scrap the local airport tax for airports handling fewer than 700,000 passengers a year, a measure designed to attract more traffic and carriers.

For UK travellers, the headline changes are the launch of London Stansted services to both Forlì and Parma, and a new Manchester route to Rimini. These additions complement existing low cost connections into Bologna and other Italian cities, giving travellers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland more flexibility on price, dates and regional entry points to Emilia Romagna.

The nine new routes include two from Forlì, three from Parma and four from Rimini. While not all of these are UK links, aviation industry coverage shows that the expanded network will boost direct connectivity between Emilia Romagna and the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland and Albania, alongside extra domestic Italian connections.

Regional reporting notes that Ryanair already accounts for a significant share of traffic at Emilia Romagna airports. The latest expansion fits within the carrier’s broader strategy of adding capacity at regional bases across Europe as it pursues passenger growth targets and looks to spread demand beyond major city hubs.

Stansted to Forlì and Parma: New Gateways to the Region’s Heartland

Forlì and Parma are among the smallest commercial airports in Emilia Romagna, but travel and transport reports highlight their strategic locations for visitors willing to combine an arrival at a quieter airport with short onward rail or road journeys. The new Stansted services position both airports as cost-conscious alternatives to Bologna for travellers heading into the region’s interior.

From Forlì, travellers are within reach of the Romagna hills, the spa town of Castrocaro Terme, and the art city of Ravenna, known for its early Christian mosaics. Publicly available tourism materials point out that trains and regional buses link Forlì with these historic centres and with coastal resorts such as Cervia and Cesenatico, giving budget airline passengers multiple options once they land.

Parma, meanwhile, sits at the heart of one of Italy’s best known food landscapes. The city is associated with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Parma ham, and tourism promotion campaigns have long marketed it as a base for factory visits, food museums and countryside bike tours. The new Stansted connection lowers the cost of access for British travellers wanting to combine gastronomy with side trips to nearby Piacenza, Reggio Emilia or the castles of the Parma and Ceno valleys.

Travel data from the region shows that visitor numbers to Emilia Romagna’s inland cities have been growing steadily, although coastal tourism still dominates overall arrivals. Additional low cost capacity into Forlì and Parma is expected to support efforts to spread visitors more evenly across the territory and lengthen stays beyond the traditional seaside season.

Manchester to Rimini: Cheaper Access to the Adriatic Coast

Rimini Federico Fellini Airport is the main air gateway for the Romagna Riviera, a stretch of Adriatic coastline that includes resorts such as Riccione, Cattolica and Bellaria Igea Marina. Aviation and tourism reports indicate that the new Ryanair route from Manchester will join existing UK links and seasonal services from other carriers, broadening options for British holidaymakers who previously relied heavily on charter packages or indirect connections.

The wider summer 2026 schedule from Rimini also features new routes to Cologne, Wroclaw and Catania, alongside the Manchester link. Industry coverage suggests that this mix of sun, city break and visiting friends and relatives traffic is intended to stabilise demand across the peak months and reduce reliance on a single origin market.

Rimini’s tourism authorities have been working to reposition the city and surrounding coast beyond its long standing image as a party and beach destination. Recent promotional material highlights its historic centre, Roman remains, Fellini themed attractions and cycle routes, as well as family friendly resorts further down the coast. More affordable direct flights from northern England are likely to make it easier for British travellers to combine beach stays with visits to inland art towns such as Urbino and San Leo, accessible by regional buses and organised excursions.

The Romagna Riviera also benefits from strengthened rail links. Public transport information shows frequent regional trains connecting Rimini with Bologna, Ravenna and Ferrara, supporting flexible itineraries that use Rimini as either a starting or ending point for a wider regional trip.

Affordable Fares and the End of the Local Airport Tax

Regional communications state that the removal of the council tax at smaller Emilia Romagna airports played a direct role in securing Ryanair’s latest expansion. By cutting per passenger charges at Forlì, Parma and Rimini, the authorities aimed to make these airports more competitive compared with nearby gateways in other Italian regions and across the border in San Marino and the Adriatic.

For consumers, the effect is likely to be felt in the final ticket price. Budget carriers typically highlight the cumulative impact of local taxes and charges on short haul fares, particularly for the lowest price promotional seats. Industry analysis of similar changes at other European airports suggests that airlines initially respond by adding capacity or basing aircraft, which in turn can stimulate demand and keep average fares lower than on comparable routes.

Ryanair’s most recent financial reporting points to continued growth in its network, with hundreds of new routes added across Europe for the mid 2020s seasons. Within that context, Emilia Romagna’s decision to reduce airport costs appears to have positioned the region as a candidate for capacity that might otherwise have gone to rival Mediterranean destinations.

Local transport assessments show that Ryanair is now the leading carrier at all of Emilia Romagna’s airports by passenger share. The nine new routes to and from Forlì, Parma and Rimini reinforce that position and may encourage other low cost and full service airlines to consider additional services, especially if the new flights perform strongly in their first summer.

Tourism Outlook: From Hidden Corners to Wider International Exposure

Tourism strategy documents from Emilia Romagna outline an ongoing push to diversify source markets, increase international arrivals and promote lesser known destinations alongside established draws such as Bologna, Modena and the main Adriatic resorts. The arrival of new UK routes on Ryanair’s network aligns with this focus, as the British market is identified as one of the most valuable for overnight stays and off season travel.

The expanded flight map for summer 2026 coincides with a wider programme of international promotion, including participation in major trade fairs in London and other European cities, and campaigns targeting long haul visitors who may combine the region with other Italian destinations. The improved accessibility of coastal and inland towns via low cost flights and rail links is expected to support these efforts by shortening travel times and reducing overall trip costs.

Rimini’s role as host city for the Routes Europe 2026 air transport forum, scheduled for May 18 to 20, is also seen in industry coverage as an opportunity to showcase the region’s tourism infrastructure and encourage further route development. The presence of airline and airport decision makers in the city shortly before the first full summer of the new Ryanair schedule may help secure additional capacity or new markets over the following years.

For UK travellers, the practical result of these changes is a broader choice of entry points, dates and price points for visiting Emilia Romagna, whether for seaside holidays, food focused itineraries, city breaks or touring holidays that combine coast and countryside. With more direct routes into Forlì, Parma and Rimini, some of the region’s best kept secrets are set to feel much closer to home.