Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea inaugurated a twice-weekly service between Ancona-Falconara and Madrid-Barajas on 19 December, giving central Italy’s Marche region its first direct link to the Spanish capital. Flights will run on Mondays and Fridays throughout the Christmas and New-Year peak, returning in spring and autumn 2026 with nearly 13,000 seats released for sale.
The move is a strategic win for the medium-sized Ancona airport, which has struggled to rebuild international connections after the pandemic. By tapping Madrid’s status as Iberia’s main hub, the route offers one-stop onward access to Latin-American destinations and Spain’s domestic network—an attractive proposition for the region’s shoe-manufacturing exporters and the sizeable Marche diaspora in South America.
Volotea already flies from Ancona to Paris-Orly and Barcelona; with Madrid the carrier raises its portfolio to three international destinations and cements its reputation for linking underserved secondary cities. Airport operator Aerdorica expects the service to add €5 million to the regional economy through visitor spending and cargo exports, especially high-value food products and luxury leather goods.
![Volotea Launches Ancona–Madrid Route, Boosting Marche Region Connectivity]()
Need help sorting out travel documentation before your trip? VisaHQ’s online platform guides customers through visa requirements for Italy, Spain and hundreds of onward destinations, offering real-time checklists, concierge support and expedited processing. Explore your options at https://www.visahq.com/italy/ to ensure paperwork is in order well ahead of boarding the new Volotea flights.
Corporate mobility teams should note that the flight schedule (mid-morning departures from Ancona, evening returns from Madrid) enables same-day meetings. Introductory fares start at €29 one-way, but availability is limited over the holiday season. Volotea says it is monitoring demand and could extend operations into the busy summer of 2026 if load factors exceed 80 %.
The launch comes as Italy’s smaller airports leverage EU recovery funds to diversify routes and lure low-cost airlines with fee discounts. Mobility professionals managing staff assignments across Italy and Spain may now consider Ancona as a cost-effective alternative to Rome or Bologna for central Adriatic operations.
The move is a strategic win for the medium-sized Ancona airport, which has struggled to rebuild international connections after the pandemic. By tapping Madrid’s status as Iberia’s main hub, the route offers one-stop onward access to Latin-American destinations and Spain’s domestic network—an attractive proposition for the region’s shoe-manufacturing exporters and the sizeable Marche diaspora in South America.
Volotea already flies from Ancona to Paris-Orly and Barcelona; with Madrid the carrier raises its portfolio to three international destinations and cements its reputation for linking underserved secondary cities. Airport operator Aerdorica expects the service to add €5 million to the regional economy through visitor spending and cargo exports, especially high-value food products and luxury leather goods.
Need help sorting out travel documentation before your trip? VisaHQ’s online platform guides customers through visa requirements for Italy, Spain and hundreds of onward destinations, offering real-time checklists, concierge support and expedited processing. Explore your options at https://www.visahq.com/italy/ to ensure paperwork is in order well ahead of boarding the new Volotea flights.
Corporate mobility teams should note that the flight schedule (mid-morning departures from Ancona, evening returns from Madrid) enables same-day meetings. Introductory fares start at €29 one-way, but availability is limited over the holiday season. Volotea says it is monitoring demand and could extend operations into the busy summer of 2026 if load factors exceed 80 %.
The launch comes as Italy’s smaller airports leverage EU recovery funds to diversify routes and lure low-cost airlines with fee discounts. Mobility professionals managing staff assignments across Italy and Spain may now consider Ancona as a cost-effective alternative to Rome or Bologna for central Adriatic operations.
