Exploring Rome's Cozy Ciampino Airport: Size And All

Rome Ciampino Airport is the smaller of Rome's two airports, located 12km (7.5 miles) from the city centre. It is a joint civilian, commercial and military airport, and is one of the oldest airports still in operation, having opened in 1916. The airport is a base for two low-cost carriers, and general aviation traffic, and is accessible by public transport. It is the 10th busiest airport in Italy, serving nearly 6 million passengers a year.

Rome Ciampino Airport is 12km from Rome's city centre

Rome Ciampino Airport is located 12km from Rome's city centre. It is one of the oldest airports still in operation, having opened in 1916. The airport is situated just outside the Greater Ring Road, the circular motorway around the city.

Ciampino Airport is the smaller of Rome's two airports, the other being Fiumicino Airport. It is also the secondary international airport of Rome, serving as a base for low-cost carriers and general aviation traffic. The airport features a single-story passenger terminal building with departures and arrivals facilities. The departures area includes a main hall with stores, service facilities, check-in counters, and departure gates, while the arrivals area has a separate entrance with baggage belts and additional service counters.

Ciampino Airport is easily accessible from the city centre, with various transportation options available. These include airport buses, taxis, the Ciampino Airlink train service, and car rentals. The airport is also serviced by the Roman transport network (ATAC), providing bus connections to nearby metro stations. Additionally, for those seeking a more comfortable journey, private transfer services are offered by companies like Welcome Pickups.

The airport caters to business travellers with facilities such as a multifunctional business room for meetings and phone calls. It also provides essential services like Wi-Fi connectivity and 24/7 first-aid availability. While the airport does not have hotels within its premises, travellers can find a range of accommodation options in the nearby town of Ciampino or in Rome itself.

It's Rome's second airport

Rome's Ciampino Airport (IATA: CIA, ICAO: LIRA), officially known as Giovan Battista Pastine Airport, is the city's second airport. It is located 12.0 km (7.5 miles) south-southeast of central Rome, just outside the Greater Ring Road (GRA) – the motorway that encircles the city. Ciampino is significantly smaller than Rome's main airport, Fiumicino, and is used almost exclusively by low-cost airlines.

Ciampino is one of the oldest airports still in operation, having opened in 1916. It served as Rome's main airport until 1960, when Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) opened. Ciampino then handled primarily charter and executive flights for several decades. However, in the early 2000s, the airport extended its facilities to accommodate the growing number of low-cost carrier operations.

Ciampino Airport features a single, one-story terminal building for departures and arrivals. The departures area includes a main hall with stores and facilities, 31 check-in counters, and 16 departure gates using walk or bus boarding. The arrivals area has a separate entrance, with four baggage belts and additional service counters. The airport also has a smaller general aviation terminal, although private flights now mostly operate from Rome Urbe Airport.

Despite its smaller size, Ciampino is one of the busiest and fastest-growing airports in Italy. In 2007, passenger traffic reached 5,402,000, a significant increase from previous years. The growth in traffic has led to noise complaints, prompting the Italian Ministry of Transport to consider building a third airport to alleviate some of the congestion at Ciampino.

Ciampino Airport is accessible by public transport, with bus and train connections to the city centre. It is also located closer to the city centre than Fiumicino, making it a convenient option for travellers.

It's a former military airport

Rome Ciampino Airport, located about 12 km (8 miles) from the centre of Rome, is one of the oldest airports still in operation. It was founded in 1916, a year after Italy entered World War I, to handle airships and military aircraft. During World War II, the airport was captured by Allied forces in June 1944 and became a United States Army Air Forces military airfield. It served as a transport base for C-47 Skytrain aircraft and also hosted combat units of the Twelfth Air Force 86th Bombardment Group, which flew A-36 Apache aircraft. After the combat units moved out, the Air Transport Command used the airport as a major hub for cargo, aircraft, and personnel for the remainder of the war.

In the post-war years, Ciampino Airport continued to serve military purposes until 1947, when control was handed back to the Italian authorities. The airport underwent expansion and renovation works, including the construction of a second runway with provisional lighting systems for night operations. The first commercial flight to land at Ciampino was operated by Trans World Airlines in 1946, marking the inaugural civil flight between the US and Italy after World War II.

Today, Ciampino Airport is a joint civilian, commercial, and military airport. It is named G. B. Pastine–Rome Ciampino Airport, after Giovan Battista Pastine, an Italian airship pilot who served in World War I. The airport is the secondary international airport serving Rome, after the Leonardo da Vinci–Rome Fiumicino Airport. Ciampino is known for being a low-cost airport, catering to budget airlines, express courier goods, and general aviation traffic.

It's one of the oldest airports still in operation

Rome Ciampino Airport, officially named G. B. Pastine–Rome Ciampino Airport, is one of the oldest airports still in operation. It was opened in 1916, a year after Italy entered World War I, and was founded to handle airships and military aircraft. The airport is named after Giovan Battista Pastine, an Italian airship pilot who served in World War I.

Ciampino Airport was Rome's main airport until 1960, serving over 2 million passengers annually. In 1946, it welcomed its first commercial flight, operated by Trans World Airlines, which was the first airline to fly a civil flight between the US and Italy after World War II. In the following years, Italian airlines Linee Aeree Italiane and Aerolinee Italiane Internazionali also began operating commercial flights to and from the airport.

In the 1950s, Ciampino Airport underwent renovations and expansions, including the construction of a second runway with night operation capabilities. However, with the opening of the Leonardo da Vinci–Rome Fiumicino Airport in 1960, Ciampino's role shifted. For over three decades, it handled primarily charter and executive flights.

In the early 2000s, Ciampino Airport experienced a transformation. The terminal facilities were extended to accommodate the rising number of low-cost carrier operations. This shift boosted the airport's traffic significantly, with passenger numbers reaching 5.4 million in 2007. As a result, Ciampino has become one of the busiest and fastest-growing airports in Italy.

Today, Ciampino Airport is a joint civilian, commercial, and military airport. It is known for its ease of navigation due to its relatively small size and single terminal design. Located just 12 kilometres southeast of Rome's city centre, it is the closest airport to the city.

It's accessible by public transport

Rome Ciampino Airport is accessible by public transport. Located about 12 kilometres (8 miles) from the centre of Rome, it is the closest airport to the city.

If you're looking to take public transport to the airport, there are a few options. First, you can take a bus from the airport to Ciampino Railway Station, and from there, take a regional train to Rome Termini Station. This train option is a good choice, as it is a fast and cheap way to get to Termini Station. Alternatively, you can take a bus from the airport to the Anagnina Metro Station, which is the terminus of Metro Line A. Buses such as ATRAL and COTRAL operate on this route, and a single ticket is valid for 100 minutes, so you can use it for both the bus and the metro.

Another option is to take the SitBus shuttle, which connects the airport with Termini in approximately 40 minutes. Buses depart from the airport between 7:45 and 11:15, and from Termini, they start operating at 4:30 am. You can also take a taxi from the airport to the centre of Rome, which typically costs around 30 euros.

Rome Ciampino Airport is well-connected to the city centre, making it a convenient option for travellers. With a range of public transport options available, you can easily get to and from the airport without a car.

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