Rome Fiumicino Airport
Main airport serving Rome, Italy / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Rome–Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino International Airport (Italian: Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci"; IATA: FCO, ICAO: LIRF), commonly known as Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, is an international airport in Fiumicino, Italy, serving Rome. It is the busiest airport in the country, the 9th busiest airport in Europe and the world's 46th-busiest airport with over 40.5 million passengers served in 2023.[2] It covers an area of 16 square kilometres (6.2 sq mi).[3]
Rome–Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci" | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
Owner | Mundys | ||||||||||||||||||
Operator | Aeroporti di Roma | ||||||||||||||||||
Serves | Rome metropolitan area / Vatican City | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Fiumicino, Lazio, Italy | ||||||||||||||||||
Opened |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
Operating base for | |||||||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 15 ft / 5 m | ||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 41°48′01″N 012°14′20″E | ||||||||||||||||||
Website | www | ||||||||||||||||||
Maps | |||||||||||||||||||
Airport map | |||||||||||||||||||
Click on the map to see marker | |||||||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Statistics (2023) | |||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Source:[1] |
Rome-Fiumicino Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" serves as the principal hub for ITA Airways, the Italian flag carrier and the largest airline in the country. It was previously the hub of Alitalia, the defunct Italian flag carrier. It is also a focus city for several other airlines, such as Neos, Aeroitalia, Ryanair, Vueling and Wizz Air.
Opened in 1961, it is in Fiumicino 30 km (18,64 mi) south of Rome and is named for Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519). Reproductions of some of his most famous works and inventions are on display inside the airport.
As of 2022, it has won the "Best Airport Award" in the category of hubs with over 40 million passengers, issued by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, for three years in a row.[4]
Early years
During construction, the remains of some Roman ships were found.[5]
The airport was officially opened on 15 January 1961, with two runways, replacing the smaller Rome Ciampino Airport, which remains in service for some low-cost airlines as well as domestic and charter operations. Despite being officially opened in 1961, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport had actually been in use since 20 August 1960. This was to help relieve air traffic that was congesting Rome Ciampino Airport during the 1960 Summer Olympics.[6]
During the 1960s, former home-based Alitalia invested heavily in the new airport, building hangars and maintenance centres; in the same period a third runway was added (16L/34R).
Later development
Security Services transferred from the Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police) to Aeroporti di Roma S.p.A. in 2000. Aeroporti di Roma created ADR Security S.r.l. (100%-owned) to provide these services as well as security services to airlines (in competition with other security companies such as IVRI). Airport Security is supervised by Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza (Italian Customs Police), Italian Civil Aviation Authority and Aeroporti di Roma S.p.A..[citation needed] Ground handling services were provided by Aeroporti di Roma until 1999, when it created Aeroporti di Roma Handling (to serve all airlines except for Alitalia, which continued to be handled by Aeroporti di Roma itself). Alitalia provided passenger assistance even before 1999. In 2001, Alitalia created "Alitalia Airport" and started providing ground handling for itself and other airlines. Aeroporti di Roma Handling remains the biggest handler in terms of airlines handled, but Alitalia Airport is the biggest handler in terms of airplanes handled as Alitalia aircraft account for 50% of the ones at Fiumicino. In May 2006, Italy's Civil Aviation Authority announced that it took off the limitation of 3 ramp handlers in Rome Leonardo da Vinci airport. ARE Group and Aviapartner announced that they would create a company called Aviapartner (51% Aviapartner; 49% ARE Group) to serve Milan Malpensa and Rome Leonardo da Vinci.[citation needed]
Since 2005, the airport operates a category III B instrument landing system (ILS). Further improvement work was implemented in 2007 to enable the airport to handle 30 takeoffs/landings per hour, up from 10, in the event of thick fog. Three runways presently operate at Leonardo da Vinci airport: 16L/34R and 16R/34L (separated by a distance of 4,000 m (13,000 ft)), and 07/25, used only westwards for takeoffs owing to the prevailing winds. The airport used to have a fourth runway, 16C/34C which was located alongside 16L/34R, it was mostly used as a taxiway or as a backup for 16L/34R; the runway is now designated as Taxiway "D".[7]
In 2010, the new single baggage handling system for more efficient luggage delivery began operations.
Several projects are planned. These include the construction of an environmentally-friendly cogeneration system, which would allow the airport to produce its own energy; the "Masterplan Fiumicino Nord", involving four new terminals and two new runways to be built in the future handling 100 million passengers per year.[citation needed]
Overview
As of 2021, after major expansion and refurbishment works, the airport now features two terminals:
- Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A83)[8] home base to ITA Airways
- Terminal 3 (Gates E1–E52)[8] is the largest terminal. It also incorporates the former Terminal 5 as well as the satellite building for non-Schengen departures. A new central airside hall has been built as its middle part in recent years.
Development
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2021) |
The terminals were upgraded during the 1990s and 2000s.[9][unreliable source?] In 1991, the domestic Pier A with 12 gates opened, followed in 1995 by the international Pier B with 10 gates and in 1999 by the international Satellite C with 14 gates. In 2000, the new domestic Terminal A opened, and the terminal buildings, then consisting of Terminal A (with Pier A), Terminal AA, Terminal B (with Pier B) and Terminal C (with Satellite C), were reorganized.
The dedicated Cargo City terminal was added in 2004, while the check-in counters for Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Continental Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, American Airlines and El Al in Terminal 5 opened in 2008, with passengers then being bused to what was then called Satellite C.
In 2009, the terminals were renamed – A was renamed T1, AA was renamed T2, B and C became T3, and T5 stayed the same.
In January 2017, Terminal 5 was closed for renovations; a new central airside hall is currently being built in the middle section. The former Terminal 2 closed permanently on 15 December 2017 to make way for the north-west expansion of Terminal 1. A new three-storey boarding and waiting area, as well as a new Pier A with 13 boarding and 10 remote gates, have been built.[10][11]
From 17 March 2020 to 6 August 2021, Terminal 1 has been closed due to decreased passenger traffic amidst the COVID-19 pandemic;[12] this pause was used to perform a redesign of the main hall layout, which increased the available passenger space.[10]
Future plans include a new Terminal 4, expansion of runways, and new buildings for car parking, services, and airport facilities.[13]
SkyBridge
An automated people mover (APM) called SkyBridge (Innovia APM 100) opened in 1999 along with the Satellite C. It consists of two stations, one on the third floor of Terminal 3, and the other on the second floor of gate area E31–44. This shuttle train is the only means of transport for passengers between the two sections of the terminal. The westbound service, from T3 to Gates E31–44, is for departing passengers only, while the eastbound service is for arriving passengers only. Arriving passengers are not permitted to take the train back, as they need to pass through a transfer security checkpoint to re-enter the departure area. Likewise, departing passengers are not permitted to take the train back to Terminal 3.
The following airlines operate regular scheduled, seasonal and charter flights to and from Fiumicino:[14]