For non-Europeans traveling within Europe, there is a wonderful new initiative which offers dozens of flights at a maximum price of $99./seat. Click here for details. Or for citizens of anywhere, more excellent opportunities are offered by the independent low-cost carriers that have been born in Europe in the last two years. These are no frills flights, of course, but we have flown on many of them, and the aircrafts are surprisingly new and comfortable. Plus, when you can fly London-Milan round trip for about US$100., are you really going to whine if you don't get served a crummy airline meal? If you live in Europe all you will need is one of these carriers. Here are the home pages of some low-cost carriers currently flying into various parts of Italy:

Ryan Air (the granddaddy of them all)

Easy Jet (currently flies to Bologna, Cagliari, Catania, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Pisa, Rome, Turin and Venice)

Hapag-Lloyd (flies to Bari, Catania, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pisa, Rome and Venice)

Air Dolomiti (flies from France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Spain to numerous Italian airports including Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Pisa, Rimini, Turin, Trieste, Venice and Verona)

Meridiana (flies to Bergamo, Bologna, Catania, Cagliari, Florence, Lampedusa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pantelleria, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona)

AlpiEagles (offers many great low-cost domestic routes within Italy, including Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Lampedusa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Venice and Verona)

My Air (flies to Bari, Bologna, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Lamezia Terme, Lampedusa, Milan, Naples, Olbia, Palermo and Venice)

Veuling (flies to Milan, Venice, Pisa, Rome, Bologna and Naples)

Air One (1000 flights a week, and if you are planning on taking more than one flight, look into their multiple-ticket Air Pass)

Europebyair (flies to Milan and between many European cities)

Click here for a map of all Italy's airports

Speaking of airline "food," we recently heard a radio interview with super-star chef Wolfgang Puck, who admitted that he too was once poor, and in those days he used to pack his own bottle of wine, along with a nice salad, yummy cheese and fresh, fresh bread, to the utter envy of his fellow passengers. Try it next time you fly and remember, friends, arrivederci at In Italy Online for all your charming lodgings and entertaining private guides!