Exploring Naples, Italy: Multiple Airports, One Vibrant City

Naples, Italy, is served by the Naples International Airport (NAP), also known as the Aeroporto di Napoli-Capodichino. It is located less than four miles from the city centre and is easily accessible by car via the A56 urban highway. The airport is also well-connected to the city centre by bus, with the Alibus service connecting the airport to Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Municipio.

NAP is the fourth-busiest airport in Italy and the busiest in Southern Italy, serving as a base for several low-cost airlines, including easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea, and Wizz Air. The airport features a single terminal building, Terminal 1, with airside sections A, B, and C handling all domestic and international flights.

Naples International Airport

The airport covers 233 hectares (576 acres) of land and contains one runway. It is the fourth-busiest airport in Italy and the busiest in Southern Italy. It serves as a base for easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and Wizzair. Naples International Airport is a military airport opened to commercial air traffic 24 hours a day.

The airport has one terminal building, Terminal 1, with airside sections A, B and C handling all domestic and international flights. The landside ground level features the check-in and arrivals areas, while the upper level features the main departures area, A, with most shops. The airside ground level contains sections B and C, with the latter used for non-Schengen departures. The airport does not feature jet bridges, so buses are used to board passengers.

As of 2021, an extension to the existing Line 1 of Naples Metro is under construction to connect the airport with the current terminus at Naples' central station. The extension is expected to be finished by 2026.

The airport's history

Naples, Italy, has one commercial airport, the Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP). The airport is located in the Capodichino district, 5.9 km north-northeast of the city. The airport is named after decorated WWI pilot Ugo Niutta.

The history of the airport dates back to 1910 when the Capodichino area, known as "Campo di Marte", hosted the first flight exhibitions in Naples. During World War I, the Italian army commandeered the area, and the airport was used to defend Naples against Austro-Hungarian and German air attacks. After the war, the airport returned to light use until the outbreak of World War II, which saw it return to military use.

During World War II, the airport was used as a combat airfield by the Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Forces during their Italian Campaigns. The RAF's No. 324 Wing, with its five squadrons of Supermarine Spitfires, was stationed at the airport, followed by the US Twelfth Air Force. Towards the end of the war, the airport was used as a major transshipment hub for cargo, aircraft, and personnel by the Air Transport Command.

Commercial traffic at the airport began in 1950, with the first chartered flight landing on its single runway. Over the years, the airport has grown in popularity and now serves as a base for airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea, and Wizzair. The airport has undergone various renovations and developments, including the addition of the Galleria Napoli shopping arcade in 1998 and a new departure lounge in 2002.

Today, Naples-Capodichino International Airport is the fourth busiest airport in Italy and the busiest in Southern Italy, handling over 9 million passengers annually. It features a single runway, one terminal building with airside sections handling domestic and international flights, and various aeronautical industrial activities. The airport is easily accessible from the city via the "Tangenziale" urban highway and public transportation options such as buses and taxis.

Airlines and destinations

Naples, Italy, is served by the Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP). It is the only commercial airport in Naples and is located 3.2 NM (5.9 km; 3.7 mi) north-northeast of the city. The airport is a base for easyJet, Ryanair, Volotea and Wizzair.

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from the Naples-Capodichino International Airport:

• Aegean Airlines
• American Airlines
• Royal Air Maroc
• JetBlue Airways
• British Airways
• Austrian Airlines
• Scandinavian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• Turkish Airlines
• TAP Air Portugal
• United Airlines
• Vueling Airlines
• WestJet
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Ethiopian Airlines
• All Nippon Airways
• Flydubai
• Swiss International Air Lines
• Emirates
• EasyJet
• Ryanair
• Volotea
• Wizz Air
• Delta Air Lines

The airport offers flights to various destinations, including:

• New York
• Newark
• Chicago
• Philadelphia
• Atlanta
• Paris
• London
• Munich
• Milan
• Rome
• Barcelona
• Amsterdam
• Berlin
• Prague
• Zurich
• Copenhagen
• Oslo
• Stockholm
• Birmingham
• Manchester
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Brussels
• Bucharest
• Budapest
• Madrid
• Lisbon
• Dublin
• Vienna
• Warsaw
• Istanbul
• Abu Dhabi
• Prague
• Sofia
• Tel Aviv
• Tirana
• Vienna
• Toronto
• Montreal

Ground transportation

Naples in Italy currently has one commercial airport, the Naples-Capodichino International Airport (NAP). The airport is located 5-6 km away from the city centre and is easily accessible by ground transportation. Here are some options for getting from the airport to the city centre:

Taxi

Official airport taxis are white and can be found outside the terminal 24/7. The journey to the city centre takes around 12 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The cost of a taxi is €18 to most major areas in the city centre, such as Piazza Municipio, Molo Beverello, and the two main railway stations. If your hotel is outside the central ring, the fare will be calculated using a taximeter. There is also a shared taxi service available for €6 per passenger.

Private Transfer

Private transfers can be booked in advance and offer a convenient door-to-door service. They are ideal for families or groups who want a seamless arrival experience. The cost is slightly higher than a taxi, but the benefit is having a personalised service that tracks your flight and adjusts the pick-up time accordingly.

Alibus Shuttle

The Alibus Shuttle is a dedicated airport bus service that runs between the airport, the Central Train Station, and the port. The shuttle departs from the airport every 20-30 minutes and takes approximately 15 minutes to reach Piazza Garibaldi in the city centre, with no additional stops. Tickets cost €5 one-way and can be purchased online, from the bus driver, or from ticket machines and stores near the terminal. This option is best for those on a budget or looking for a quick and affordable way to get to the city centre.

Public Bus (Line 10-UC)

The Interlocal 10-UC bus line is the most budget-friendly option, with tickets costing €1.10 one-way. However, it is less frequent and slower than the Alibus Shuttle. The bus departs from Caserta, outside Naples, and stops at various locations within the city, including Via Don Bosco, Piazza Carlo III, and Via Arenaccia, before terminating at Corso Meridionale – Terminale near Piazza Garibaldi. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes, and the bus runs every two to three hours from Monday to Saturday, with no service on Sundays. This option is best for those on a very tight budget or those who want to use public transportation to get to the city centre.

Incidents and accidents

Naples International Airport, also known as Naples-Capodichino International Airport, is the only commercial airport in Naples, Italy. Here are some incidents and accidents that have occurred at the airport or en route to it:

15 February 1958

A United States Air Force plane en route from Ramstein-Landstuhl Air Base in Germany to Istanbul, departed from Naples-Capodichino Airport towards Athens, carrying 16 servicemen on board. The flight crew reported being at 6500 feet and switched to Rome ATC, but nothing further was heard from them. Dense fog over the Ionian Sea and southern Italy impeded search efforts for the missing aircraft. The plane's wreckage was found on Mount Vesuvius, with no survivors.

19 June 2002

A Piper PA-46-310P plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Naples Municipal Airport, resulting in the deaths of the pilot and two passengers. The plane was on its way to St. Petersburg, Florida, with no flight plan filed. Witnesses reported seeing the plane at a low altitude before it entered a steep bank, followed by a nose-down pitch, and crashed. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the probable cause to the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in a stall/spin and uncontrolled descent.

31 March 1959

A United States Navy Douglas R4D-8 plane crashed after takeoff from Naples-Capodichino Airport due to engine failure, killing three of the 20 occupants and one ground worker.

9 February 2024

Hop-A-Jet Flight 823, a chartered flight from Ohio to Naples Airport in Florida, experienced a dual engine failure shortly before landing. The pilots attempted an emergency landing on Interstate 75 but collided with two vehicles, resulting in the deaths of both pilots. However, the two passengers and the flight attendant on board survived.

In addition to these incidents, there was also a small plane crash into a flight school at Naples Airport in Florida on New Year's Day, with no fatalities.

Frequently asked questions