Lois Larson
Sicily is an Italian island located off the southern tip of the Italian mainland. It is served by six airports, four of which have connections to foreign destinations. The two largest and busiest airports are Palermo (PMO) in the northwest of the island, and Catania (CTA) on its eastern coastline. The latter is the busier of the two, with over 6.1 million passengers using the airport in 2021. The other two international airports are Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS) and Comiso Airport (CIY).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Airports | 6 main airports and several smaller airfields |
| Names of Airports | Palermo, Catania, Trapani–Birgi, Comiso, Lampedusa, Pantelleria |
| Location | Northwest, eastern coastline, western tip, south, Lampedusa Island, Pantelleria Island |
| Airlines | Ryanair, Dutch carrier Corendon, Lufthansa, Air Dolomiti, Air Horizont, ITA Airways, Volotea |
| Passenger Traffic | 6.1 million passengers in Catania in 2021 |
| Connections | Rome, Milan, Munich, London, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Naples |
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What You'll Learn
Palermo Airport (PMO)
Palermo Airport has a single terminal building that handles both domestic and international arrivals and departures. The baggage reclaim and arrivals area is on the ground level, while the check-in area is located on the first floor. The boarding area on the second floor has five gates with airbridge access, and the rest are accessible by bus or on foot. The airport has two public car parks, with a free shuttle bus service available for long-term parking.
In terms of transportation, Palermo Airport is well-connected to the city of Palermo. The airport's railway facility, Punta Raisi railway station, provides a link to Palermo Centrale railway station, with trains departing every 30 minutes during workdays. Additionally, several private bus companies connect the airport to Palermo and other destinations within Sicily, including Catania, Trapani, and Agrigento. Taxi services are also available outside the arrivals area of the terminal building.
Palermo Airport was formerly named Punta Raisi due to its location, and it opened to the public in 1960. However, the choice of location was controversial due to its distance from Palermo and the windy weather conditions, which initially caused problems for planes using the east-west runway. As a result, another runway with a south-west to north-east direction was constructed. In 1992, the airport was renamed Falcone–Borsellino in honour of two anti-mafia judges, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were murdered by the Sicilian Mafia.
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Catania Airport CTA
Catania Airport, also known as Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, Catania Fontanarossa, and Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is the busiest airport in Sicily. It is located on the island's eastern coastline, about 6 km southwest of Catania, the island's second-largest city. The airport is named after the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was born in Catania.
Catania Airport has a rich history that dates back to 1924 when it was the region's first airport. During World War II, it was seized by the Allies and used as a military airfield. After the war, it was returned to civil authorities, and by the late 1940s, it underwent expansion to accommodate increasing passenger numbers. In 1950, a new, bigger, and improved Catania Airport was inaugurated. Over the years, the airport has continued to evolve to meet the demands of growing passenger traffic, with new terminals and infrastructure being added periodically.
The airport is well-connected to the surrounding region. It is situated close to the A19 motorway, which links Catania with Palermo and central Sicily, and the European route E45, which runs to Syracuse in the south. Additionally, Catania Airport has its own railway station, providing access to trains running to various destinations on the eastern side of the island, including Syracuse and Taormina. The airport is also served by public transport, with shuttle bus services connecting it to Catania's city centre and Central Train Station.
Several major airlines offer services to and from Catania Airport, including ITA Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, easyJet, and Ryanair. These airlines connect Catania to numerous European destinations, including Rome, Munich, Amsterdam, and Berlin. With its convenient location, efficient transport links, and a range of airline options, Catania Airport serves as the main gateway to the east coast of Sicily for millions of travellers each year.
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Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS)
Trapani–Birgi Airport was inaugurated as a military airfield in 1961 and was named after the Italian aviator Livio Bassi. It was relaunched as a civil airport in 2003 by the Province of Trapani. Ryanair began using the airport as its main hub to Sicily, bringing several new international flights to and from Trapani. The airport has been recognised as crucial for the tourism-related economy of Western Sicily.
Trapani–Birgi Airport has non-stop passenger flights to 20 destinations in eight countries, including 10 domestic flights within Italy. Popular routes include Bologna, Milan (Bergamo and Malpensa), Pantelleria, and Manchester, UK. The airport also offers direct flights to 12 different oceanic and maritime locations.
The airport is accessible by car, although there is a small fee for entering the airport by car. It is also possible to walk to the airport for free. Trapani–Birgi Airport is closed between 00:30 and 00:43, so there are limited options during those hours.
Trapani–Birgi Airport is one of six commercial airports serving Sicily, with Palermo (PMO) and Catania (CTA) being the two largest and busiest. Trapani–Birgi is the largest of the remaining airports, which tend to focus on low-cost flights.
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Comiso Airport CIY
Comiso Airport (CIY) is a small airport in the south of the main Sicilian island. It is served predominantly by Ryanair, which operates the majority of the facility's routes. The airport was first opened in 1954, when Alitalia, the Italian national airline, began commercial operations there. However, it fell into disuse after the war, and refurbishment work to reactivate the airport began in 2004. The airport was open to traffic in 2013.
As of April 2025, there were 5 airlines flying from Comiso to 32 airports around the world. The airlines operating from Comiso Airport are AeroItalia, Neos, Transavia France, Volotea, and Wizz Air Malta. The route with the most departures is to Milan (BGY), with an average of 7 flights every week. The top international destinations from Comiso are Tirana (TIA) and Lille (LIL). The route with the longest flight time is to Lille, which takes approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Comiso Airport is described as a "nice little and friendly country airport" that serves the province of Ragusa. It is reportedly very clean and well-organised, with friendly staff. The airport is conveniently located for reaching the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Val di Noto and the beaches of southeast Sicily by car. However, it is not easily accessible by public transport.
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Lampedusa Airport (LMP)
Lampedusa Airport has a runway of 1,800 metres and a new terminal with 8 check-in desks and 4 metal detectors. The airport can accommodate medium-sized short and medium-haul aircraft, such as the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. It is managed by Ast Aeroservizi Spa and is open to commercial traffic. The airport's IATA code is LMP, while its ICAO code is LICD.
There are 78 flights on 21 different routes from Lampedusa Airport, connecting it to 19 different cities in 5 different countries. The most popular routes connect Lampedusa to Palermo, Milan, Catania, and Naples. The airport experiences peak traffic during the summer, as several airlines operate tourism-focused flights to the island. Lampedusa Airport also has year-round links to Catania and Palermo, operated by Danish Air Transport (DAT). Additionally, seasonal services are provided by various airlines, connecting Lampedusa to the Italian mainland.
Lampedusa Airport is one of six commercial airports serving the Italian region of Sicily. The two main airports in the region are Palermo (PMO) in the northwest and Catania (CTA) on the eastern coastline. Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS) and Comiso Airport (CIY) are the other two international airports in Sicily, with Ryanair having a significant presence at both locations.
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Frequently asked questions
There are six airports in Sicily, four of which have connections to foreign destinations. The two largest and busiest airports are Palermo (PMO) in the northwest and Catania (CTA) on the eastern coastline. The other four airports are Trapani–Birgi Airport (TPS), Comiso Airport (CIY), Lampedusa Airport (LMP), and Pantelleria (PNL).
The busiest airport in Sicily is Catania (CTA). In 2021, over 6.1 million passengers used this airport, a 67.6% increase from 2020.
The best airport to fly into depends on your itinerary. Palermo and Catania are the two main airports in Sicily. If you plan to visit western Sicily, including cities such as Cefalù, Caltanissetta, and Trapani, it is recommended to fly into Palermo. If you plan to visit Messina, Taormina, and the area of Siracusa, it is recommended to fly into Catania.
