Ryanair's growth plan will generate 2,250 jobs at Italian airports, O'Leary said in presenting the plan with Delrio and the head of the Italian civil aviation authority ENAC, Vito Riggio. "I thank the Renzi government and the work of minister Delrio," O'Leary said. "Without their work all this growth would have been lost.
    "This excellent work, carried forward by Renzi and Delrio, enables regional airports to compete on a par with national ones," O'Leary went on, referring to the elimination of a hike in municipal tax and changes to airport guidelines.
    O'Leary said that if plans to privatise the airport in Alghero on the northwest coast of Sardinia are successful, the company could reopen there by November.
    "Talks on Alghero are moving forward and we're confident that we can close an agreement by the end of September," he said.
    He said tickets for flights to Pescara would go back on sale this week, despite an announced closure of that airport.
    Delrio said that he believed a "good agreement can be reached" on Alghero, and said the ministry is "closely following" negotiations.
    The unveiling of the Ryanair plan marks a "good day for the Italian economy," Delrio said.
    "It's excellent news and I hope many others will follow this example," Delrio said.
    "The Italian government continues in its path of coming into line with European norms, to increase services to citizens and create opportunities for all investors," the minister said.
    Premier Matteo Renzi and Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan have made a "pact" to make sure that budget limits will not constrain "concrete investments" to try to boost the economy, Delrio said. He said it was the first time such an agreement had been forged. (By Denis Greenan - Ansa)