flight from Naples to Palermo

Alitalia will fly you from Naples to Palermo non-stop for around $100-$120 one way. Flight takes about an hour.

The train was horrible. Each time after that we flew. Find good flights on the lo-cost inter EU airlines on Skyscanner.com and Whichbudget.com. They are all reliable. (well....all except Alitalia) We use any and all of these for all of our inter_EU flights. Read the T&C's!!!! Be aware that they only allow one carry on: not a purse and a carry on. Watch the weight and size requirements!

Actually, we flew Alitalia last May, Naples to Catania and Catania to FCO. I can't fault them in any way. On time, no problem with our checked bags. Prices were a little over $100/pp for each flight. There were some cheaper options, one of which went bankrupt a few weeks later. There's a website on which you can check airline ratings - - maybe someone else can come up with the name. When I checked, the cheaper lines had worse customer ratings than Alitalia, so I just went with them.

Besides Alitalia, there is also Air Italy that flies to Catania.
In addition, Volotea, a Spanish low cost, will start flying from Naples to Palermo next Spring. The bad reputation of Alitalia is mostly anectodal. In addition it's a new company since 2009, therefore I'm not sure if any experience prior to then would count anyways. I would choose based on price and convenience of flight schedule, not on the occasional bad experience someone might have had with the airline. I have flown a lot in my life, including 60, 70 times across oceans, and I think I've had at least one unpleasant experience with virtually every airline I've flown with, whether it was a delay, cancellation, lost luggage, rude flight attendants, etc. You name it. As long as the number of my take offs equal the number of my landings, I'm ok.

thanks for all the posts but I cannot seem to find these low prices with Alitalia? I am coming up with over $200 a person

Alitalia is not going to be cheap. Like all major airlines, their fare structure is higher than Low Cost airlines. Your best bet is Volotea, if you travel after March 30. I tested for high season (July) and fares range from Euro 29.99 to euro 49.99 (one way) on most days. Some days drop to as low as 19.99. Even after adding baggage fees you will save over using Alitalia. http://www.volotea.com/en/

I havent looked at taking the overnight train to Palermo
I am wandering if that is much cheaper? although it is along time to be on the train.

"I am coming up with over $200 a person" I used an arbitrary date of 18 April. Skyscanner.com and momondo.com both showed a price of $97 one way, taxes included, for Alitalia flight 1203, nonstop to Palermo, departing Naples at 0710. And I double-checked. The Alitalia website, for the same exact flight, showed a price of $209.50. I'm not sure how to explain the discrepancy. But you might want to try some website comparisons for your planned date of travel. You might get lucky.