Italian authorities have recently announced the opening of a new airport just an hour’s drive south of Naples International Airport. Known as Salerno-Costa d’Amalfi Airport, it is scheduled to begin operations on July 1, 2024.
According to the Pinelli Group, Italian Air Navigation Service provider ENAV has authorised essential flight operations at the new airport this summer. With the expectation of approximately 400,000 passengers passing through it, the airport is ready to relieve the traffic at Naples Airport.
Barcelona-based airline Volotea has announced four routes starting this summer. Operating a fleet of Airbus A319 and A320s, the airline’s online booking system shows twice-weekly flights in July and August to Cagliari Airport in Sardinia and Nantes Airport in France.
As the same source reveals, twice-weekly flights to Verona, Italy, and Catania, Sicily, will also be available from September through early November.
Construction works are still underway on the passenger arrivals terminal and service infrastructure. Naples Airport, managed by Naples and Salerno Airport Management Company, GESAC, saw 12,394,911 passengers in 2023 alone, underscoring the region’s urgent need for additional airport facilities.
At the end of last year, the Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported several developments where the plans included the construction of a new terminal, external roads, and metro connections, with a considerable budget of 94 million euros allocated to the project.
In addition, the current runway is set to be extended to 2,200 meters this year, with the projected number of passengers expected to reach six million by 2030.
Salerno Airport is accessible via a regional rail link or IntercityPlus at Pontecagnano railway station, followed by a 6 km taxi or bus ride to the airport. Over the years, the airport has undergone considerable development, enabling large-scale civilian traffic. It also offers various facilities to meet the needs of passengers, including four check-in desks, two boarding areas, baggage carousels, a VIP lounge, a bank ATM, food and beverage vending machines, and a car park.
The history of Salerno-Costa d’Amalfi airport dates back to its inauguration in 1926 by Italy’s military air force, Aeronautica Militare. After serving as a flight training facility and the Army air base during World War II, the airport returned to commercial operations after the war.
Over the years, it has served several airlines, including Alitalia, and mainly handled charter and domestic routes to destinations such as Palermo, Catania, Olbia, and Trapani.
