Sardinia, Sicily Expand "ULCC" Networks for Summer 2026

In a major boost for Mediterranean tourism today, low-cost carriers Volotea and Wizz Air announced a significant expansion of their networks in Sardinia and Sicily for the 2026 summer season.

Volotea will launch new international routes from Olbia to Seville and from Alghero to Lyon, supported by the Sardinian region's new "routes incentive scheme." This expansion cements Olbia's position as a primary European base, offering over 1.1 million seats this year as travelers seek out the rugged "Emerald Coast" over more traditional Italian city-breaks.

Simultaneously, Wizz Air is expanding its base in Catania, Sicily, with the addition of a third Airbus A321neo. The airline announced today that it will launch a new 4X-weekly route to Tel Aviv starting in May, complementing its existing network to London Gatwick, Warsaw, and Prague.

This move highlights Sicily’s growing status as a "year-round" destination that blends culinary tourism with historical exploration, drawing in a younger demographic of budget-conscious digital nomads and weekend explorers.

These new routes are part of a broader 2026 trend where Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers (ULCCs) are moving into "premium-leisure" markets that were previously the domain of full-service airlines. By offering direct, affordable links to secondary cities like Seville and Lyon, these carriers are making the Mediterranean more accessible to travelers from across Europe and the Middle East. Tourism boards in both Sardinia and Sicily have welcomed the news, noting that the increased capacity will help distribute visitors more evenly across the islands, reducing the pressure of "overtourism" in primary ports.

For the 2026 traveler, this expansion means more flexibility and lower fares for summer planning. With the Lunar New Year also driving a surge in capacity between China and New Zealand today, the global aviation market is showing remarkable resilience despite localized weather and geopolitical challenges. Travelers looking for "undiscovered" Mediterranean gems are encouraged to book early, as these new low-cost routes are expected to sell out quickly as the "Summer of 2026" begins to take shape in the booking data.