Officials have described it as ‘an important moment’ for the region
Italy is one of Europe’s most iconic summer travel destinations – with all its lovely coasts, pretty scenery, gelato and aperol to enjoy in the reliably sunny weather, it’s got pretty much everything you’d want from a summer holiday.
But some areas are easier to reach than others, and the Amalfi coast is particularly tricky to get to if you’re travelling by plane – until now, that is.
That’s because the destination, which is known for its stunningly colourful villages, beaches, and dazzling blue sea, is finally getting its own airport – Salerno Costa d’Amalfi – and it will be in operation as early as July.
The airport itself isn’t actually new, it just hasn’t been in commercial operation for a while. Originally built in 1926, it’s been a military air base, flying school, firefighting hub and a private airport, all before operating as a commercial hub between 2007 and 2016. And now, eight years later, it will host commercial flights once again.
It sits around 45km away from the town of Amalfi, and around 21km away from the city of Salerno. When flights begin taking off in the summer, Spanish airline Volotea will be the first to appear on its timetable.
Flights to Nantes in France and Cagliari in Sardinia will begin in July, followed by Verona and Catania in September. Eventually, there’ll be more than one airline operating from here of course, but the hub’s upgrades will be carried out gradually, so that’s how the services will be introduced too.
The runway has been extended so it’s now 2km long, and it’s thought that by 2027 there’ll be an entirely new passenger terminal built from natural and sustainable materials (which might even have solar panels).
Carlos Muñoz, Volotea’s founder and president, told CNN that the opening of the airport is ‘an important moment for the region’. While the Amalfi coast has suffered the effects of overtourism over recent years, business owners in the region seem to be welcoming the news.
But this project isn’t just about making the journey to the Amalfi coast easier – it’s also to help ease the pressure on Naples’ Capodichino International Airport, which welcomed a record 12.4 million passengers in 2023. When Salerno Costa d’Amalfi airport is finished (way in the future in 2043) it should welcome up to 6 million passengers per year.
But Italy’s not just about air travel – the government are encouraging visitors to see the country by train, last summer announcing plans for three new vintage tourist train routes.
Source from:Time Out
