Last year, Italian airports set a historic record by welcoming 197.2 million passengers, which is an increase of 2.1 per cent compared to the previous record set in 2019.
Data provided by Assaeroporti revealed that while the post-COVID recovery mainly pointed to the resilience of the domestic market, 2023 means a complete revival for the international segment, the most important component of air traffic.
The international sector registered 128 million passengers, a slight increase of 0.1 per cent compared to the year before the pandemic.
Such data also show that aircraft movements experienced a decline of 2.6 per cent in 2023 compared to 2019, reaching 1,601,059 units.
By exceeding the volumes of 2019, in 2023, the sector will, therefore, leave behind the difficult years of the pandemic, during which the airport system lost at least 280 million passengers.
Rome Fiumicino Soars to Top with 40.5 Million Passengers in 2023
The leading Italian airport in passenger traffic last year, Rome Fiumicino, secured the top spot with an impressive 40.5 million passengers, closely followed by
- Milan Malpensa – 26.1 million
- Bergamo – 16 million
- Naples – 12.4 million
- Venice – 11.3 million
- Catania – 10.7 million
- Bologna – ten million
- Milan Linate – 9.4 million
- Palermo – 8.1 million
- Bari – 6.5 million passengers
Based on geographic regions that saw exceptional traffic recovery, the airports of Northern and Central Italy boasted an increase of +20 per cent and +33 per cent, respectively, compared to last year. Meanwhile, Southern Italy and Island airports continue to show strong trends, recording growth of +10 per cent and +9 per cent, surpassing pre-Covid levels, as seen in 2022.
However, the goods sector suffered a slight decline influenced by the prevailing economic and geopolitical context. In 2023, the volume of transported goods reached 1,086,810 tons, marking a decrease of 1.5 per cent compared to 2019 and a -1.6 per cent decrease compared to 2022.
Milan Malpensa Leads Italy with 65% Share in National Aviation Cargo
Milan’s Malpensa airport is the main leader in national cargo traffic, which handles a staggering 665,655 tonnes, providing a commanding share of 65 per cent of the country’s aviation cargo. Next are Rome Fiumicino with 18 per cent, Venice with 4.2 per cent and Bologna with four per cent, reaffirming their positions in the freight transport landscape.
Moreover, the President of Assaeroporti, Carlo Borromeo, pointed out that 2023 culminated with nearly 200 million passengers—a historic milestone for Italian airports, signifying a significant and psychologically important threshold. Borgomeo also emphasised the extraordinary eagerness to travel, confirming a robust and resilient aviation sector.
