Ryanair–Wizz Air battle intensifies on new Budapest route to Mediterranean paradise

The rivalry between Europe’s budget airlines is set to flare once again as Ryanair and Wizz Air go head-to-head on a new route linking Budapest with the sun-drenched Calabrian town of Lamezia Terme. Hungary’s low-cost carrier Wizz Air announced in late November that it would launch flights to the picturesque Italian destination. But, keen to steal a march on its competitor, Ryanair has now revealed that it will begin operating the route even earlier.

According to airportal.hu, a Hungarian aviation news outlet, the Irish airline will start services between Budapest and Lamezia Terme from 29 March. The town — home to roughly 67,000 residents — sits in the province of Catanzaro in southern Italy, an increasingly popular holiday spot. Wizz Air unveiled its own plans to fly there only a few weeks ago.