Brindisi is served by Brindisi Airport (BDS), a regional airport in the Apulia region of southern Italy. It operates a schedule heavily influenced by tourism, with a strong summer network of European arrivals and essential domestic connections, but much-reduced service in the winter months. If you're visiting the Salento peninsula in summer, BDS is very convenient; if you're traveling off-season, you may need to look at Bari instead.
The most frequent and affordable flights into Brindisi are domestic arrivals from major Italian hubs. The primary connections are from Rome (FCO) and Milan (MXP, BGY), which provide access from Italy's domestic network and — if you're coming from outside Italy — from international flights into those hubs. Seasonally, BDS receives a significant number of direct arrivals from key European tourist markets, particularly from Germany (Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf), the UK (London, Manchester), Switzerland, and Eastern Europe, approximately from April to October. Outside those months, European arrivals drop dramatically.
The arrival market at BDS is served by a mix of Italian and European carriers. ITA Airways typically operates the domestic route from Rome (FCO) — this is the most reliable year‑round option. Low-cost and leisure carriers like Ryanair, Volotea, and easyJet operate many of the seasonal European routes from London, Berlin, Paris, and other cities. Other charter airlines may also provide service during the peak summer season. Competition is present on popular tourist routes (e.g., London–BDS, Milan–BDS), which helps keep summer fares reasonable if booked early.
To find cheap flights to Brindisi, book domestic arrivals from Rome or Milan 4–8 weeks in advance. For summer European routes, book 3–6 months ahead when airlines release schedules — last‑minute summer fares are very expensive. The airport is much quieter from November to March, with far fewer options (sometimes just Rome and Milan). For reliable year‑round travel or a wider choice of airlines, consider using Bari Airport (BRI), which is about an hour away by car or train and has a more extensive and consistent network, including more low‑cost carrier options. Flying into Brindisi mid‑week (Tuesday–Thursday) can offer significant savings, especially on seasonal charter flights. Brindisi is ideal for a direct summer holiday to Salento but less suitable for flexible off‑season travel.