The claim the she will only be able to carry 8 V/STOL aircraft is obviously wrong and I suspect the result of Italian politics (much like European destroyers are called frigates). If you remember back Giuseppe Garibaldi was only supposed to carry helicopter, but with its 13,850t full load it now carries around 16 Harriers/helicopter.

Cavour, when completed, will displace 27,100t full load and although it has some sealift capacity its primary role will be as an aircraft carrier. It doesn’t have a docking well and is more like a large Invincible class vessel than a smaller Wasp/Tawara.

I estimate that she will be able to carry 20+ Harriers (although the MM don’t have that many) and a handfull of helicopters or 15-20 JSF and a handfull of helicopters when the time comes. Foldable wings on the F-35B version would have increased the possible number (due to hangar width), but c’est la vie.

They are planning (or building already?) a 26,900t full load LHD with a skijump.

It was designed for 16 AB-212 (hangar-deck-size) A mix of Harrier/helicopter is lower. The Harrier consumes more space than an AB-212.
There is also no sense to carry more on deck. To create usefull missions (ordonance) and have some combat persistence, when it comes to resupply needs and servicing some thousand miles off-coast Italy. 🙂