Exploring Italy: Airport Locations And Travel Tips

where is the airport in italy

Italy has a number of international airports spread across its northern, central and southern regions. The country's two largest airports are the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, commonly known as Fiumicino, and Malpensa, for Milan. Milan is served by two other airports, Linate and Orio al Serio, while Rome's secondary airport is Rome–Ciampino International Airport. Other major Italian airports include Venice Marco Polo, Naples International Airport, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, and Cagliari Elmas Airport on the island of Sardinia.

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Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport

Romes Leonardo da Vinci Airport, also known as Fiumicino Airport, is the largest and busiest airport in Italy. It is located in Fiumicino, 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Rome. The airport opened on 15 January 1961, with two runways, replacing the smaller Rome Ciampino Airport. However, it had been in use since 20 August 1960.

Leonardo da Vinci Airport is named after the Italian polymath, Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). Reproductions of some of his most famous works and inventions are on display inside the airport. The airport is the main hub for ITA Airways, serving over 49.2 million passengers in 2024. It is also the eighth busiest airport in Europe and the 39th busiest in the world.

The airport offers easy access to Rome by train, bus or taxi. Trenitalia provides train services to and from the airport, although these may be subject to change due to infrastructure upgrades or strikes.

Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport has a category III B instrument landing system (ILS) in place. This system allows the airport to handle 30 takeoffs and landings per hour, even in thick fog.

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Milan Malpensa Airport

The history of Milan Malpensa Airport dates back to 1909 when Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni used the site to test their aircraft prototypes. In 1910, the Caproni brothers flew a Cal biplane from the airfield, which later became the largest aircraft production centre in Italy. During the Second World War, the airfield was taken over by the Luftwaffe, and the main runway was heavily damaged. After the war, the airfield was restored, and commercial operations commenced in 1948.

Malpensa Airport has undergone significant developments over the years, including the construction of new terminals and the extension of runways. In the 1980s, Linate Airport reached its saturation point, and Malpensa was designated as the centre for all services covering Northern Italy. The "Malpensa 2000" plan included the development of fast, efficient connections to Milan's city centre, receiving funding from the European Union. Today, Malpensa Airport offers excellent amenities and easy access to the city, making it a popular choice for travellers.

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Venice Marco Polo Airport

Italy has several international airports, including the Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, Milan Malpensa Airport, and Venice Marco Polo Airport.

The airport terminal has three floors: the ground floor for arrivals and the second floor for departures, with 70 check-in desks and two airside lounges. The third floor of the terminal houses offices for the operating company and airlines. The departure floor has separate areas for Schengen and non-Schengen flights.

Passengers at Venice Marco Polo Airport can enjoy various amenities, such as the "Marco Polo" VIP Lounge, which offers snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, newspapers, smartphone charging sockets, and a terrace overlooking the Laguna and the airfield. The airport also provides fast-track security access and assistance for disabled passengers and those with reduced mobility.

The airport is easily accessible, with scheduled bus connections to nearby railway stations and several destinations in the lagoon served by public transit Alilaguna water shuttle services. Passengers can also take the express Gold Line to Piazza San Marco or opt for a water taxi.

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Palermo's Falcone Borsellino Airport

Italy has several international airports, including the Leonardo da Vinci airport in Rome, and Malpensa for Milan. Palermo's Falcone Borsellino Airport, also known as Punta Raisi Airport, is located in Cinisi, around 35 kilometres northwest of Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily. It is one of the busiest airports in Italy, with 7,118,057 passengers in 2022, making it the second busiest airport in Sicily after Catania-Fontanarossa Airport. The airport is named after two leading anti-mafia judges, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were murdered by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992.

Falcone Borsellino Airport has one terminal building with four levels: a subterranean floor, a ground floor, a first floor, and a second floor, with arrivals and departures on the upper levels. The airport has two runways and covers a total area of 450 acres. Airline companies serving the airport include low-cost carriers such as Meridiana, Ryanair, Air Berlin, Air Italy, Blu-express, easyJet, Jetairfly, and Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airport is easily accessible from Palermo by train, bus, or car. The Punta Raisi railway station is the northwestern terminus of the Palermo metropolitan railway service, with trains running every 30 minutes during workdays. Several private bus companies also connect the airport to Palermo and other destinations in Sicily.

Falcone Borsellino Airport has a range of amenities to ensure a positive travel experience for its passengers. There are two ATMs located within the terminal, one on the first floor in the "Check-in B" area and the other on the second floor in the Departure Hall. The airport also has two currency exchange offices, one in the "Check-in Area A" and another in the Departure Hall. A first-aid facility is located on the first floor in the "Check-in Area B", staffed by doctors from the Croce Rossa Italiana. Additionally, a Customer Care station has been established to handle any complaints, comments, or suggestions, aiming to provide a positive experience for all users.

The history of Palermo's Falcone Borsellino Airport includes several notable incidents. On May 5, 1972, Alitalia Flight 112 crashed into Mt. Longa while approaching the airport, resulting in the deaths of all 115 people on board. On December 23, 1978, another Alitalia flight, Flight 4128, crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea during its approach, with no survivors. More recently, on August 6, 2005, Tuninter Flight 1153 ran out of fuel en route and ditched near Palermo, resulting in 16 fatalities out of 39 passengers. On September 24, 2010, a Wind Jet flight encountered a thunderstorm and windshear, landing short of the runway and injuring around 20 passengers during the evacuation.

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Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport

Italy has several international airports, including the Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, which serves the city of Bologna. This airport is relatively small, with just one terminal, and is located about 5 kilometres (3 miles) from Bologna Centrale railway station. The Marconi Express monorail, which opened in 2020, connects the airport to the railway station in approximately 7.5 minutes. However, this service has experienced significant disruptions, including a suspension between November 2021 and February 2022, with regular buses temporarily replacing it.

The airport has daily direct bus connections with several cities, including Ferrara, Florence, Modena, Cervia, Ravenna, and Rimini. Additionally, there are three weekly connections with Ascoli Piceno. The TPER bus routes 54 and 944 also serve the airport, connecting it to Borgo Panigale and the Maggiore Hospital, respectively. Route 944 is extended to Bologna Centrale railway station during its last two departures at 00:15 and 00:45 and its first two departures from the station at 5:20 and 5:30.

Frequently asked questions

The Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome, commonly known as Fiumicino, is the largest airport in Italy. It is also the busiest airport in the country.

Rome has two main airports: Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino) and Rome–Ciampino International Airport (G. B. Pastine).

Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in Northern Italy. Milan also has two other primary airports: Linate Airport and Orio al Serio International Airport.

The Pisa International Airport is the main airport serving Tuscany. The Galileo Galilei airport in Pisa is another option.

Venice Marco Polo Airport is the primary airport serving Venice and the surrounding Veneto region.

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