Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea confirmed today that it will station a second Airbus at Venice-Marco Polo Airport and launch twice-weekly services to Corfu (27 June) and Rhodes (2 July). The expansion lifts the airline’s Venice network to 23 destinations—its largest ever—and boosts seat capacity by 12 % year-on-year to almost 700,000 places.
The decision is significant for corporate travel planners: Corfu and Rhodes rank among the fastest-growing near-shore leisure-meeting venues for Italian SMEs seeking affordable off-site locations. Direct flights shorten journey times from the north-east by up to four hours compared with one-stop itineraries via Athens, making Friday-to-Monday off-sites feasible without eating into the working week.
![Volotea beefs up Venice base with second aircraft and two new Greece routes for summer 2026]()
Volotea will also lift frequencies on high-demand domestic routes such as Venice–Olbia (+60 %) and Venice–Karpathos (from weekly to double-weekly). According to SAVE, the airport operator, the extra capacity aligns with Marco Polo’s strategy of restoring pre-pandemic connectivity and diversifying carriers ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, when visitor numbers to northern Italy are expected to spike.
For mobility managers the announcement offers new point-to-point options that bypass congested hubs like Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino. The carrier’s loyalty tie-ups with SkyTeam members mean travellers can still accrue mainstream frequent-flyer points, an attraction for staff on project rotations between Italy and Greece.
Employers should, however, note that Volotea applies stricter cabin-bag limits than legacy competitors and charges for corporate-style perks such as flexible tickets. Negotiating a volume-based agreement early could help contain costs ahead of the summer peak when Mediterranean fares typically surge.
The decision is significant for corporate travel planners: Corfu and Rhodes rank among the fastest-growing near-shore leisure-meeting venues for Italian SMEs seeking affordable off-site locations. Direct flights shorten journey times from the north-east by up to four hours compared with one-stop itineraries via Athens, making Friday-to-Monday off-sites feasible without eating into the working week.
Volotea will also lift frequencies on high-demand domestic routes such as Venice–Olbia (+60 %) and Venice–Karpathos (from weekly to double-weekly). According to SAVE, the airport operator, the extra capacity aligns with Marco Polo’s strategy of restoring pre-pandemic connectivity and diversifying carriers ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, when visitor numbers to northern Italy are expected to spike.
For mobility managers the announcement offers new point-to-point options that bypass congested hubs like Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino. The carrier’s loyalty tie-ups with SkyTeam members mean travellers can still accrue mainstream frequent-flyer points, an attraction for staff on project rotations between Italy and Greece.
Employers should, however, note that Volotea applies stricter cabin-bag limits than legacy competitors and charges for corporate-style perks such as flexible tickets. Negotiating a volume-based agreement early could help contain costs ahead of the summer peak when Mediterranean fares typically surge.
Source: ANSA Veneto
