Travel Alert: Airports In Italy Shut Down

Italy has a large number of airports, with 130 airports in total as of 2012. The country is the fifth busiest in Europe by air passenger transport, with about 148 million passengers in 2011. In March 2020, Rome's main airport, Fiumicino, closed one of its two terminals, while its second airport, Ciampino, was shut to passenger traffic. This was due to the COVID-19 outbreak, which also saw a string of international carriers pull out of the country.

Rome's Fiumicino airport closed one of its two terminals

Romes Fiumicino airport, officially named Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, closed one of its two terminals in response to the coronavirus pandemic. On March 17, 2020, Terminal 1 of the airport was shut down, while Terminal 3 remained operational. This decision was made by Aeroporti di Roma, the airport management company, to curb the spread of COVID-19 and adjust to the decrease in passenger traffic.

Fiumicino Airport is the busiest airport in Italy and one of the largest in Europe. Serving the city of Rome, it is a vital transportation hub for both domestic and international travel. The closure of Terminal 1 significantly impacted its operations, resulting in flight cancellations and delays.

During the pandemic, Fiumicino Airport witnessed a significant drop in passenger numbers, which led to the temporary closure of Terminal 1. This terminal closure allowed the airport to consolidate its resources and manage the reduced demand for air travel effectively. It also enabled social distancing measures to be implemented more easily, ensuring the safety of travellers and staff.

Prior to the pandemic, Fiumicino Airport boasted an extensive network of flights, serving as a hub for various airlines. The airport typically handles a high volume of passenger traffic, with over 40 million passengers passing through in 2023. It is a popular gateway to Rome and a preferred choice for travellers due to its efficient facilities and convenient transport links to the city centre.

Fiumicino Airport's Terminal 1 primarily served domestic flights within Italy. Meanwhile, Terminal 3, the larger of the two, accommodated both domestic and international flights, including those to and from the United States and Israel. With the closure of Terminal 1, some adjustments were made to flight operations and terminal assignments.

The closure of Terminal 1 at Fiumicino Airport due to the pandemic was a necessary measure to manage the health crisis and adapt to the changing travel landscape. It demonstrates the airport's commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its passengers and staff while maintaining essential travel services during a challenging period.

Rome's Ciampino airport shut down

Rome's Ciampino airport was shut down in March 2020 as Italy went into a total shutdown to contain the spread of the worsening Coronavirus outbreak. The airport, home to several low-cost airlines, was closed on March 14, 2020, while Terminal 1 at Fiumicino, the main airport in the Italian capital, ceased operations on March 17, 2020.

Ciampino, officially known as G. B. Pastine–Rome Ciampino Airport, is located 12.0 km (7.5 miles) south-southeast of central Rome. It is one of the oldest airports still in operation, having opened in 1916. The airport is an important hub for low-cost carriers, general aviation traffic, and military operations. It is named after Giovan Battista Pastine, an Italian airship pilot who served in World War I.

The decision to shut down Ciampino airport was made due to the multiple flight cancellations to and from Italy announced by airlines operating at the airport. The COVID-19 crisis had devastated air traffic in Italy, with many international carriers pulling out of the country. Cargo aviation activities at the airport, however, remained unchanged during the shutdown.

The closure of Ciampino airport caused inconvenience to passengers and impacted the operations of low-cost carriers. It is one of the busiest and fastest-growing airports in Italy, with passenger traffic exceeding 5 million in recent years. The Italian Ministry of Transport is considering the need for a third airport in Rome to handle excess traffic.

Milan's Linate airport considered for closure

Milan's Linate Airport, located just six miles east of the city's iconic Duomo, is a key hub for Alitalia, Italy's national carrier. The airport is set to close for three months, from 27 July to 27 October 2019, for essential runway maintenance work and the refurbishment of its terminal. This closure is expected to impact approximately 2.5 million passengers and divert 30,000 flights to alternative airports.

Linate Airport is Milan's most convenient airport due to its proximity to the city centre. Its closure will primarily affect Alitalia, which is already facing financial challenges, as well as other airlines such as easyJet, Iberia, KLM, British Airways, and Lufthansa. Most flights are expected to be rerouted to Milan Malpensa, located 30 miles northwest of the city. However, Malpensa is already the second-busiest airport in Italy, and accommodating the additional flights and passengers will be a challenge.

To manage the increased traffic, Malpensa has invested $20 million to adapt its infrastructure and operating systems. They have added extra check-in stands, security lines, e-passport booths, and boarding gates. Additionally, there will be more frequent train rides and buses to transport passengers to Milan. Despite these preparations, the closure of Linate during the busy summer season is expected to cause significant disruptions and delays.

Bergamo's Orio al Serio International Airport, 50 kilometres from Milan, is another alternative for airlines and passengers. This airport is a major hub for low-cost carriers like Ryanair and serves numerous European and Mediterranean destinations. However, it is unlikely to be a preferred option for full-service carriers.

The closure of Linate Airport will undoubtedly cause travel disruptions and inconvenience for passengers flying to and from Milan during the summer peak season. The Italian authorities' decision to close the airport for three months highlights the importance of maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure, even at the expense of temporary disruptions.

International carriers pulled out of Italy

In March 2020, Italy was facing the worst coronavirus epidemic outside of China. As a result, many countries cut travel links to Italy, and several airlines suspended their operations to the country.

Alitalia

Alitalia is Italy's national flag carrier. In March 2020, it was still flying to and from Italy, albeit with a reduced number of flights due to decreased demand. However, the airline suspended its Milan-New York flights.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines suspended its New York-JFK service to Rome starting March 11 through April 30, 2020.

United Airlines

United Airlines reduced its U.S. and Canadian flights by 10% and international flights by 20% in April 2020, with similar cuts planned for May.

Emirates

Emirates temporarily suspended operations to Milan from New York (JFK) from March 11 to April 3, 2020, due to low demand.

American Airlines

American Airlines suspended flights between Los Angeles and mainland China and Hong Kong for the entire summer of 2020.

Norwegian

Norwegian prepared to cancel approximately 3,000 flights between mid-March and mid-June 2020, representing about 15% of its total capacity for that period.

British Airways

British Airways axed its 60 flights a day to Italian cities, including Milan, Venice, and Rome.

Jet2

Jet2 cancelled its services to Italy until April 26, 2020.

EasyJet

EasyJet stopped most of its flights to northern Italy but continued to fly to southern Italian cities such as Rome and Naples despite the blanket travel ban imposed by the Italian government.

US President Trump stopped travel from continental Europe

On March 12, 2020, US President Donald Trump announced a ban on all travel from continental Europe to the USA for the next 30 days. The ban, which started on March 13, 2020, did not apply to the United Kingdom. This was due to the UK's status outside of the Schengen area and the recent implementation of Brexit.

The ban was a response to the rapid spread of COVID-19, with Italy being the worst-affected country in Europe. Trump stated that the US clusters were "seeded" by European travellers. There were already more than 1,000 positive cases in the US, with an estimated 38 deaths.

The ban caused significant disruption to the airline industry, with many carriers already suffering financial losses due to reduced demand and flight cancellations. Trump's announcement resulted in thousands of flight cancellations and left travellers scrambling to change their plans.

The Italian authorities also considered shutting down more airports to try to halt the contagion. Rome's main airport, Fiumicino, closed one of its two terminals, while Ciampino airport, used by budget airlines, closed completely.

Trump's decision to restrict travel from Europe was a bold move, but it was not without criticism. Some questioned the effectiveness of the ban in stopping or slowing transmission. The financial relief measures announced by Trump also relied on approval by Congress.

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