Ryanair cuts winter flights as fuel costs rise on US-Iran war

Ryanair said Wednesday that it would cut its winter flight schedule in Europe as the Irish no-frills airline and other carriers face higher fuel costs caused by the US-Iran war, The Local Italy reported.

The decision has particular resonance for Lombardy, where Milan's airports of Malpensa and Bergamo serve as key hubs for budget travel, and where winter tourism to the Alps depends heavily on affordable connections from across Europe.

For Italy's regional airports, which have grown increasingly dependent on low-cost carriers, the cuts threaten to reduce connectivity just as the country's tourism sector seeks to extend its season beyond the summer months.