How a Ciampino noise dispute could ground your next trip out of town

By Maddie Sousa

ROME, Oct 3 - In an effort to muzzle airplane noise for the surrounding community, the Italian aviation authority recently declared it will limit the number of flights into and out of Rome Ciampino airport to 100 a day beginning Oct 28, threatening the low-cost airline trade.

Hit hardest could be Ryanair, the airport's primary carrier. But the popular low-cost carrier is fighting back with a lawsuit, ANSA reports. If the suit fails, 1 million fewer passengers will be able to fly in and out of Rome's second largest airport. For Ryanair, it would have to cut back on
about 66 services weekly and possibly move flights to other airports in the area, a move it is reluctant to do.

The legal battle could impact JCU students' ability to travel around the continent.

Potential casualties, Ryanair said, would include flights from Rome to Madrid and Zaragoza if the decision is upheld by Lazio’s administrative court, which is currently hearing the case.

Many study-abroad students come to JCU intending to travel on weekends and most of them choose Ryanair because of it’s cheap prices and wide variety of destinations. If the airline is forced to cut back on flights, JCU students will no doubt suffer.

JCU students had mixed opinions about the pending cut-back. Jordon Lovett, a 21-year-old JCU study abroad student from California, said he found Ciampino Airport to be “overly crowded” and “very unorganized.” Cutting back on flights, he reasoned, may help this problem, even if it is not Ciampino’s main goal.

Matthew Verrecchia, a 21-year-old study abroad student from South Carolina, said, “I don’t mind the crowds. I like going on the internet and seeing flights for one cent. That’s nice because I have a small budget and can’t afford other airlines.”

In response to Ryanair's threats to cut back on services from Rome, Verrecchia said that he would prefer Ryanair to provide fewer flights, rather than leave Rome altogether.

He just may get his wish.

Comments

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I must know the exact details before pursuing my trip then.