Olbia, May 8th, 2025 – Every journey has a destination — and some even make history. Volotea, the airline connecting small and mid-sized European cities, marked a major milestone today by welcoming its 75 millionth passenger with a special event. Upon landing at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, the passenger and fellow travelers were greeted by the world’s largest welcome mat, officially recognized by Guinness World Records — a fitting tribute to Volotea’s spirit and its commitment to making every passenger feel at home.

The flight from Barcelona to Olbia, which arrived at 11:00 a.m., included a special mid-flight announcement to mark the occasion. Onboard to celebrate with passengers were members of Volotea’s executive team, including Founder and CEO Carlos Muñoz. Upon arrival, the 75 millionth passenger was greeted by a simple, cheerful message written across the 75-square-meter welcome mat: "Ciao Mamma! Sono il passaggero 75.000.000” — or in English, “Hi Mom! I’m passenger number 75,000,000.” A relatable nod to the familiar gesture of texting loved ones after landing, the phrase became the symbol of the day — capturing the spirit of homecoming and human connection.

The 75 millionth passenger, Fabio Bonaiuto from Sardinia, received 75 free flights to share with his mother — highlighting the personal nature of travel and the joy of reconnecting with family. After leisure, visiting friends and relatives is the second most common reason people fly with Volotea. In fact, one in four passengers chooses the airline specifically to reunite with loved ones — underscoring how travel continues to be shaped by human connection. 

“We are proud to celebrate our 75 millionth passenger milestone with an initiative that perfectly reflects the spirit of Volotea — surprising, thoughtful, and designed to make every journey special,” said Carlos Muñoz, Founder and CEO of Volotea. “This world record is a symbol of our commitment to creating unique experiences, combining a low-cost model with high-level service — an approach that sets us apart and has underpinned the many milestones we have achieved over the past decade. Since 2012, we have built a strong and extensive network connecting small and mid-sized European cities, many of which were underserved, and this achievement reflects the ongoing value we bring to passengers and our continued ambition to make quality air travel more accessible. Celebrating this milestone in Olbia was particularly meaningful, given our long-standing presence and relationship serving the city and its residents. Sardinia is a key region for us, and we thank our partners at Olbia Airport for their trust and support.”

“We are particularly proud to have been part of Volotea’s 75 millionth passenger celebration right here in Olbia, where it operated its very first flight back in April 2012,” added Silvio Pippobello, CEO of Geasar S.p.A. “Since then, Volotea has grown steadily, strengthening its presence to the point of opening a base here and becoming a key carrier even during the winter months. Volotea has been a strategic partner for us, consistently believing in and investing in our region, ensuring regular connections even during the low season and throughout the most challenging periods for the air transport sector. Our collaboration has grown stronger year after year, helping to connect Northern Sardinia more extensively and effectively with an increasing number of destinations.”

Olbia: A Strategic Base for a Record-Breaking Celebration

Olbia has long been one of Volotea’s key strategic bases, and Sardinia plays an important role as a destination in the airline’s network. In fact, out of the 75 million passengers that Volotea has transported since it began operations in 2012, nearly 10 million have been to or from Sardinia. In 2025, the airline will offer 1.1 million seats and operate 27 routes from the Sardinian airport, making it the leading carrier by number of destinations served from Olbia.

This strong presence reflects Volotea’s long-standing commitment to territorial continuity, ensuring reliable, year-round connections for Sardinian passengers. Olbia’s importance made it the natural choice to celebrate such a significant milestone.

Notably, the Barcelona–Olbia route — taken by the 75 millionth passenger — is the only international connection operating from the airport during the winter season, further highlighting its strategic role within Volotea’s network.

Volotea expects to surpass 80 million passengers later this year. Over the next two years, the airline will focus on consolidating and strengthening its position across Europe, while maintaining its commitment to offering affordable, high-quality service — connecting more travelers to their destinations and continuing to deliver meaningful travel experiences along the way.

ABOUT VOLOTEA

Volotea was founded in 2011 by Carlos Muñoz and Lázaro Ros, who previously founded Vueling. It is one of the fastest-growing airlines in Europe over the last decade, expanding its network and increasing its seat offerings year-on-year. In May 2025, the airline will celebrate the milestone of carrying 75 million passengers throughout its network.

Volotea reaches 110 airports and is based in 19 small and medium-sized European capitals: Asturias, Bari, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Brest, Florence, Lille, Lyon, Lourdes, Marseille, Nantes, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Rodez, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Venice, and Verona.

In 2025, Volotea will operate more than 420 routes (with over half exclusive), offer 12.7 million seats (+1% versus 2024), and fly approximately 75,000 flights. The airline operates a fleet of 41 Airbus A319 and A320.

Volotea is working towards achieving a more sustainable future in aviation. The airline has committed to reducing direct CO2 emissions per passenger-kilometer by 50% by 2030 (vs. 2012) and expects to reach this target between four to five years ahead of schedule.

Volotea, with a workforce of over 2,000 employees, actively boosts connectivity within the territories where it is based while contributing to their economic development and enriching the cultural landscape through impactful sponsorship projects.

Volotea was awarded a four-star rating in 2024 and recognized by Skytrax in its global passenger satisfaction survey as the “Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe” at the 2023 and 2024 World Airline Awards, referred to by media worldwide as “the Oscars of the aviation industry.” The airline adds these accolades to its growing list of achievements, which includes consecutive wins for "Europe’s Leading Low-Cost Airline" at the World Travel Awards in 2021, 2022, and 2024.

For more information visit: https://www.volotea.com/en/press-room/ 
press@volotea.com
Tel: 93 117 17 77