**Northern Italy cements its summer appeal** Italy’s northern regions are confirming their status as a top European summer destination. According to the Italian Ministry of Tourism, average accommodation occupancy in June reached 61.3%, up sharply from 47.9% a year earlier. For the period from 15 June to 15 September, Italy posted a 51.2% occupancy rate, ahead of Spain (42.8%) and France (32.9%). The lakes, thermal spas, and coastal areas of the north are driving most of this demand, with Lake Como, Lake Garda, Venice, Verona, Milan, Turin, and Genoa among the key draws. The Dolomites add a mountain and nature dimension, while river cruises on the Po and the Bianco Canal offer a unique way to explore the region’s art cities. **easyJet and ENIT push Nantes–Italy connections** In this buoyant context, easyJet and the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT) launched “Une Table en Terrasse” in Nantes from 8 to 12 July, promoting five direct routes from Nantes-Atlantique to Catania, Naples, Milan, Olbia, and Rome. The campaign includes a competition for return tickets and a €500 easyJet holidays voucher. easyJet reports a 23% increase in easyJet holidays bookings to Italy for summer 2026, with Rome, Catania, and Olbia leading demand from Nantes. Reginald Otten, deputy CEO of easyJet France, stated that easyJet is now the leading carrier between France and Italy this summer, with a 7% capacity increase from Nantes year-on-year. **What this means for aviation training** For ATPL and ATC students, this news illustrates how seasonal tourism flows directly influence airline route planning, fleet allocation, and slot management. The 14% increase in direct flights to Italy (compared to 8% for Spain and 2% for France) reflects real-world capacity decisions that students will encounter in network planning modules. ATC trainees should note the operational challenges of managing increased traffic to secondary airports like Nantes-Atlantique, where seasonal peaks require flexible slot coordination and airspace management. The data also shows how low-cost carriers like easyJet use holiday packages to lock in demand, a business model that affects load factors and turnaround times—key concepts in airline operations exams.