Bari, Italy: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Bari, Italy is served by the Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, also known as the Palese Airport, located 8 kilometres northwest of the town centre. The airport is one of the busiest in Italy, handling nearly 5 million passengers in 2023. It is accessible by taxi, bus, train, bike, and car.

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport

The airport was originally built as a military airfield in the 1930s, serving the Italian Air Force until World War II. In 1943, it was seized by the British Eighth Army and used by all of the Allied air forces until the end of the war in 1945. After the war, it was returned to the Italian Air Force.

In the 1960s, the airport was opened to civilian flights, with Alitalia operating several routes to other Italian cities. This marked the beginning of a series of developments to accommodate more traffic and larger aircraft. New buildings were constructed in the early 1980s, and the runway was extended in 1990 for the FIFA World Cup.

The single passenger terminal at Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport has three floors and is approximately 30,000 square metres in size. The ground floor is primarily for arrivals, with eight departure gates and seven boarding gates. The terminal offers various amenities, including ATMs, a business lounge, a bank, shops, and cafes. The departure lounge features a wide range of shops, from electronics to duty-free. Free and unlimited Wi-Fi access is available throughout the terminal.

There are four main means of public transportation available at the airport: car rental, taxi, bus, and train. The Bari Metropolitan Railway Service connects the airport to the Bari Centrale railway station in the city centre.

Bari Airport's history

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, also known as Palese Airport, is located about 8 kilometres or 5 miles northwest of Bari, Italy. The airport is named after Pope John Paul II, who was born Karol Wojtyła.

Bari Airport was originally built as a military airfield in the 1930s by the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force). During World War II, in September 1943, it was seized by the British Eighth Army and used by the Allied air forces until the end of the war in 1945. The airfield was used as an operational base and a command and control centre by the Royal Air Force, the United States Army Air Forces Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces, the Italian Co-Belligerent Air Force, the Balkan Air Force, and the Air Force of the South.

After the war, the airfield was returned to the Italian Air Force. In the 1960s, the airport was opened for civilian flights, with Alitalia operating regular flights to several destinations in Italy. This marked the beginning of Bari Airport's transition to accommodate civilian air traffic.

Over the years, the airport has undergone significant developments to keep up with increasing air traffic and technological advancements. New runways and facilities were added to handle larger aircraft and a growing number of passengers. In the early 1980s, a new building, originally intended as a cargo terminal, became the airport's new passenger terminal.

Bari Airport continued to expand and improve its infrastructure in the 1990s, with upgrades to the runway and terminal in preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. However, the increasing air traffic highlighted the airport's infrastructural limitations, leading to the construction of a new passenger terminal in the early 2000s.

Today, Bari Airport remains a busy international airport, serving as a focus city for Ryanair and offering flights to various domestic and international destinations. It is one of the busiest airports in Italy, handling millions of passengers annually and providing essential connectivity to the city of Bari and the surrounding region.

Transport to/from Bari Airport

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport (IATA: BRI, ICAO: LIBD) is located approximately 8 kilometres (5 miles) northwest of Bari, Italy. The airport, which handled 6,461,179 passengers in 2023, is well-connected to the city centre through buses, trains, and taxis.

Bus

The AMTAB bus service, also known as the urban bus service number 16, connects the airport to the Piazza Aldo Moro, near the Bari Centrale railway station in the city centre. The trip takes 40 to 60 minutes, and tickets cost €0.80, but must be used within 75 minutes. Another option is the Tempesta Shuttle Bus, which offers a faster service, taking 20 to 30 minutes, for €4.15.

Train

Although Bari Airport is not served by a direct railway line, a new train line opened in 2013 that connects the airport to the main train station in the city centre, Bari Centrale. The train service takes approximately 20 minutes, and tickets cost €5.

Taxi

Taxis are available 24 hours a day outside the arrivals hall. The trip to the city centre takes about 25 minutes without traffic and costs around $20-25. Reputable taxi companies include Taxi Apulia, Radiotaxi, and EuroTaxi.

Car Rental

For extended stays in Bari, car rental services are available at the arrivals terminal. However, driving in the city centre can be challenging due to narrow and confusing roads. Car rental companies offer a range of vehicles, including options for families and disabled drivers. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years, and a valid driving license is required.

Airlines and destinations

History

Bari Airport, officially known as Karol Wojtyla Airport, was originally a military airfield built in the 1930s. It served the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force) until 1943 when it was seized by the British Eighth Army during World War II. Until the end of the war in 1945, it was used by the Allied air forces. After the war, the airfield was handed back to the Italian Air Force.

In the 1960s, the airport was opened to civilian flights with Alitalia as the first airline to operate from the airport, flying to several destinations within Italy.

Airlines

The following airlines operate regular scheduled, seasonal, and charter flights to and from Bari:

• Scandinavian Airlines
• Wizz Air
• Ryanair
• British Airways
• EasyJet
• Norwegian Air Shuttle

Destinations

Bari Airport offers flights to several destinations across Europe and North America. Some of the destinations include:

• London
• Paris
• Milan
• New York
• Copenhagen
• Oslo
• Stockholm
• Athens
• Berlin
• Rome
• Catania
• Prague
• Vienna
• Warsaw

Passenger services

Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport, also known as Bari Airport, is located 8 kilometres or 5 miles northwest of Bari, Italy. It is one of the busiest airports in Italy, serving nearly 5 million passengers in 2019 and over 6 million in 2022 and 2023.

The airport has a single passenger terminal, which is three floors tall and measures about 30,000 square metres. The ground floor is primarily for arrivals, with eight departure gates and seven boarding gates. There are information points, ATMs, a business lounge, a bank, shops, and cafes. The departure lounge has around 20 shops, including duty-free, electronics, books, cosmetics, toys, and travel items. Free and unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal. The airport also has a lost and found service.

There are four main transport options for passengers arriving at or departing from Bari Airport: car rental, taxi, bus, and train. Car rental services are provided by about eight companies, including Discover Cars. Taxi services are available to most surrounding locations, with Apulia Taxi being a popular choice. Buses are a cheaper option for longer distances but may require more planning and scheduling. The train service, provided by the Bari Metropolitan Railway Service, connects the airport with Bari Centrale railway station in the city centre and requires scheduling.

Frequently asked questions