A breath of fresh air for Trapani, Comiso, and the minor islands, which aim to revive tourism and the island’s accessibility

After a long and arduous process, the law abolishing the municipal surcharge on boarding fees at smaller Sicilian airports has finally been enacted. The Senate gave its final approval yesterday to the amendment, embedded within the "DL Economia", marking a fundamental turning point for mobility and tourism on the Island. This closes a chapter that began last June 5, when the Sicilian Regional Assembly firmly repealed the measure (see AVIONEWS), only to see it reemerge and reach completion in the Capital.

The decision represents a breath of fresh air for airports with annual traffic below 5 million passengers, primarily those in Trapani, Comiso, and the aerostations on the minor islands, such as Lampedusa and Pantelleria. The exemption, effective from January 1, 2026, is designed specifically to stimulate air traffic, attract new carriers, and consequently boost tourist inflow to areas that, despite their natural beauty, often suffer from limited connectivity.

The measure not only removes an economic burden from passengers but also serves as a powerful marketing tool for airports and the entire tourism supply chain. By abolishing the tax, it becomes possible to offer more competitive fares, making routes to destinations like Trapani or the Iblean area—often off-season tourist spots—more attractive. The declared objective is twofold: on one hand, to strengthen existing routes; on the other, to encourage the launch of new connections, particularly international ones.

The financial backing for the measure has come from the Sicilian Region itself, which allocated a fund of €6.6 million to cover the lost tax revenues for the municipalities. This significant financial commitment demonstrates a political will to concretely invest in the aviation sector and the island’s tourism future. The satisfaction among regional leadership and Sicilian politicians is palpable. President Renato Schifani welcomed the outcome, referring to it as "a great step forward" resulting from the "synergy between Rome and Palermo". This agreement has, in this case, managed to overcome initial difficulties to deliver Sicilian stakeholders a crucial tool for development. Following Schifani, Alessandro Dagnino, Regional Economic Councillor, added: "The Senate's approval of the law abolishing the municipal tax on airport boarding rights at the island’s smaller airports enables the immediate implementation of the measure strongly desired by the Schifani government and approved by the Regional Assembly last June. With an allocation of €6.6 million, we have secured coverage for the tax abolition to promote traffic growth at the airports and, consequently, the development of the territories hosting these facilities. By virtuously leveraging fiscal policy, we help make travel to these destinations more affordable, benefiting both citizens and tourism".

For further clarity, it should be noted that while the Senate has approved the measure, the legislative process of the "DL Economia" is not yet fully complete; it is still pending passage through the Chamber of Deputies for final conversion into law. The debate is scheduled for August 4.