From New York to Bari: How New Flights are Making Puglia More Accessible Than Ever
Explore how recent expansions in air travel are transforming Puglia into a bustling hub for tourists and investors alike.
We used to joke that all roads lead to Rome, but now it seems new roads are sprouting towards Puglia—with Ryanair and Neos adding exciting new routes! This addition is not just great news for travel enthusiasts but also for potential investors eyeing the untapped opportunities in Italy's enchanting south.
Ryanair has unveiled its 2024 winter schedule to Puglia, bringing over 600 weekly flights across 45 routes from Bari and Brindisi. This includes the introduction of four new exciting destinations: Marseille, Nuremberg, Tirana, and Trieste. Additionally, travelers can enjoy increased frequencies on popular connections such as Budapest, Cagliari, Madrid, Milan (Malpensa), Pisa, Sofia, and Turin.
These expanded operations are supported by five aircraft based in Puglia—three in Bari and two in Brindisi—with an impressive $500 million investment. This venture not only bolsters local employment, supporting over 4,600 jobs, but also ensures stable connectivity for Apulian residents and a steady influx of tourists throughout the year, forecasting over 6 million passengers annually—an increase of 7% from the previous period.
What’s interesting is the expected boost in year-round tourism, especially during the winter months, which will clearly benefit significantly from the increase in flights to Puglia. As the winter blues dissolve into sunny, clear skies, Puglia boasts 68 more sunny days annually than Tuscany. Learn more in our article, 'Beyond the Classics: Puglia Emerges as Italy’s Premier Investment Spot.' This delightful climate, coupled with improved accessibility, makes Puglia an enticing winter getaway for those looking to invest in this extraordinary region. To illustrate, the photo above was taken at Masseria La Calma in the middle of January last year, and the one below in Gallipoli, showcasing the persistent sunshine and blue skies.
Bridging Bari and the Big Apple
New York Flights to Bari
It's not just from Europe that the growing excitement for this enchanting region is evident; airlines are making bold moves to connect Puglia with the rest of the world. Neos is charting a new path from New York to Puglia with a direct flight to Bari, marking a significant step in linking Southern Italy directly with North America. Starting on June 3, 2025, this service will operate until October 15, flying once a week on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft, configured with Premium and Economy classes, accommodates 355 passengers. The flights are scheduled for optimal convenience, departing from New York every Tuesday afternoon and arriving in Bari early the next morning.
This strategic route is a key component of Neos's plan to broaden its North American network, which also includes services from New York to Milan and Palermo. With an increased footprint in the United States, Neos aims to boost both leisure and business ties, thereby enriching the economic and cultural connections between these dynamic regions.
More Than Just Flights – A Gateway to Growth
The introduction of these flights is expected to have profound socio-economic impacts. According to Carlo Stradiotti, Neos CEO:
“We strongly believe in the potential of Puglia’s market... our goal is to carry some 12,700 travellers in the first year of operation.”
The region's airports are experiencing steady growth in passenger numbers, reinforcing Puglia's position as a strategic hub for Southern Italy. The Neos CEO continues to share his vision for capitalising on the increasing opportunities for leisure and business flows in the region and adds: “We strongly believe in the potential of Puglia’s market, which in recent years has carved out a leading role for itself on the national airport scene. The number of passengers at Puglia’s airports is growing steadily, and our goal is to carry some 12,700 travellers in the first year of operation”…”Following the connection that linked Sicily to the United States, we are further expanding our connections with New York by serving another important Italian region. Thanks to this new flight, we will have a daily offer from New York to Italy with four frequencies from Milan, two from Palermo, and one from Bari, thus helping to significantly develop leisure and business flows between the two countries.”
Puglia a strategic hub for Southern Italy
And Puglia could not be happy as it is reinforcing its position as a top Italian destination and key hub for the whole of the South of Italy. Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Puglia’s Airport says:
“The announcement of the Bari-New York direct flight is the crowning achievement of an extraordinary year for Aeroporti di Puglia. A year full of successes and goals that have allowed us to consolidate our position as a strategic hub for Southern Italy ”
This new direct flight is just the beginning of a broader vision for Puglia’s connectivity, according to local officials. 'This is the first flight that launches us into the world, but I can already anticipate that others will follow,' remarked the president of Aeroporti di Puglia. 'Our objective is to continue investing in new routes and infrastructure in order to transform Puglia’s airport system into a driver of economic, tourism, and social development. We are building the future of Puglia: a future of connections, opportunities, and dreams come true.' These ambitious plans suggest that the region is on a fast track to becoming a global hub, promising enhanced accessibility and increased interest from around the world.
The Bari-New York is a dream come true for the region. Michele Emilano, president of the Puglia Region states:
“Bari-New York is much more than an air link, it is a dream come true, a bridge that unites traditions, affection, and opportunities.”
And he continues adding that: “After an extraordinary year for Aeroporti di Puglia, today we are celebrating an achievement that makes our region even more of a protagonist on the international scene. This flight is not only for those who dream of discovering Puglia, but also for the many Apulians living in New York and the United States, who will be able to return home more easily to rediscover their roots and re-embrace their families.”
How to get to Puglia by plane?
With the increased frequency of inbound flights to Puglia and promising real estate trends showing positive ROI year over year for the last five years, there are truly no more excuses not to come and explore this enchanting region. As many key international airlines like British Airways, EasyJet, Lufthansa, and Ryanair expanding their routes, Puglia is more accessible than ever. Both of Puglia's main international airports, Bari and Brindisi, now offer direct flights from numerous European cities. For those interested in exploring investment opportunities or planning a visit, an extensive list of direct flight options sorted by departure country is available below. Discover how easy it is to reach Puglia and why it’s becoming a preferred choice for savvy travellers and investors alike.
Masseria La Calma Pool bed, Apulia, Italy
We did the hard work and provided a list of flight options from various destinations for you below. It doesn’t matter where you fly from, you can book your stay with us at Masseria La Calma.
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Flights From Albania
Wizz Air offers daily flights from Tirana to Bari Airport, with schedules varying by month. For detailed information on flight times and to view the latest timetables, please visit Wizz Air's website.
Flights from Austria
Wizz Air provides daily service to Bari Airport, and Laudamotion flies to Brindisi Airport, with schedules varying throughout the month. For the most accurate flight details and timetables, please check with the respective airlines.
Flight From Belgium
Ryanair operates flights from Brussels Charleroi to Bari on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and to Brindisi on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. For complete flight details and timetables, please visit Ryanair's website.
Flights from Bulgaria
Ryanair offers flights connecting Sofia to Bari. For detailed flight information and schedules, please check directly with Ryanair.
Flights from Croatia
Volotea operates select flights from Split and Dubrovnik to Bari, while Ryanair connects Zagreb to Brindisi. For comprehensive flight information and schedules, please visit the Ryanair and Volotea websites.
Flights from Check Republic
Ryanair offers flights from Prague to Bari on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. For detailed flight information and timetables, please check the Ryanair website.
Flights from Denmark
Fly Sas operates flights from Copenhagen to Bari on Mondays and Fridays. For all flight details and schedules, please visit the Fly Sas website.
Flights from France
Ryanair provides daily flights to Bari and to Brindisi on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from Paris Beauvais. Easyjet flies from Nantes to Bari on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and Volotea offers flights from Lyon to Bari on Mondays and Thursdays. For complete flight details and timetables, please consult the respective airlines' websites.
Flight from Germany
Ryanair offers connections from Frankfurt Hahn to both Bari and Brindisi, from Dusseldorf to Bari, and from Memmingen to Brindisi. Lufthansa provides flights from Munich to Bari. For comprehensive flight details and schedules, please consult the respective airlines.
Flights from Greece
Ryanair, Volotea, and Aegean Airlines connect various Greek islands and cities such as Skiathos, Santorini, Chania, Mykonos, Zakynthos, Heraklion, Kos, and Athens to Bari Airport.
Flights from Hungary
WizzAir operates direct flights from Budapest to Bari on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. For details and timetables, please visit WizzAir's website.
Flights from Ireland
Ryanair provides service from Dublin to both Bari and Brindisi on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Visit Ryanair's website for detailed flight information.
Flights from Israel
Ryanair flies from Tel Aviv to Bari on Thursdays and Sundays. For more information, please consult Ryanair.
Flights from Lithuania
Ryanair offers flights from Kaunas to Bari on Tuesdays and Saturdays. For full flight details, please check Ryanair's website.
Flights from Luxembourg
LuxAir schedules flights to both Bari and Brindisi on various days. For specifics, please consult LuxAir.
Flights from Malta
Ryanair connects Malta to Bari with flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Visit Ryanair for detailed schedules and booking options.
Flights from the Netherlands
Transavia operates flights from Amsterdam to Bari, and other airlines connect Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Eindhoven with Brindisi. For complete details, please consult Transavia.
Flights from Norway
Norwegian Air provides connections from Oslo to Bari. For detailed flight schedules, please consult Norwegian Air.
Flights from Poland
Various airlines offer flights from Warsaw, Krakow, Wroclaw, and Poznan to Bari, and Ryanair also connects Wroclaw with Brindisi. For more information, please consult the respective airlines.
Flights from Portugal
Ryanair operates flights from Porto to Bari. For complete details and schedules, please visit Ryanair's website.
Flights from Romania
Several companies offer services from Cluj, Timisoara, Bucharest, and Iasi to Bari. For detailed flight information, please consult the individual airlines.
Flights from Russia
S7 Airlines provides daily flights from Moscow to Bari. For more information, visit S7 Airlines' website.
Flights from Serbia
Air Serbia connects Belgrade to Bari. For flight details and timetables, please check with Air Serbia.
Flights from Spain
Various companies link Valencia, Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona to Bari and Brindisi. For updated details and timetables, please consult the respective airlines online.
Flights from Sweden
Ryanair offers flights from Stockholm to Brindisi. For more information, please visit Ryanair.
Flights from Switzerland
Easyjet flies from Geneva to Brindisi on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. For detailed schedules and bookings, consult Easyjet.
Flights from Turkey
Turkish Airlines connects Istanbul with Bari Airport. For flight details and timetables, please consult Turkish Airlines.
Flights from the UK
The UK has extensive connections to Puglia, with British Airways flying daily from London Gatwick to Bari and from London Heathrow to Brindisi on Saturdays and Tuesdays. Ryanair offers daily flights from London Stansted to Bari and Brindisi on multiple days, and Easyjet provides daily connections from London Gatwick to both Bari and Brindisi. For comprehensive details, please consult the individual airlines.
