Planning a getaway to the breathtaking Amalfi Coast in Italy? Well, good news! The old-school airport is getting a revamp and will soon be ready to welcome tourists once again.
According to CNN on Wednesday (February 14), the Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is set to reopen its doors in July. Tucked away southeast of Amalfi town, about 21 kilometers from Salerno city, this airport has quite a story to tell.
Built back in 1926, this airport has seen it all over the past 98 years – from military operations to flight schools, firefighting duties, and even hosting private flights.
In 2007, it underwent some major upgrades to handle commercial flights too. The runway got an extension, and they added two gates and four check-in counters. Airlines like Air Dolomiti and VolaSalerno were among the first to fly in and out.
But in 2016, the airport had to close its doors completely. Fast forward to today, and July 11 marks the start of a fresh chapter with Spanish airline Volotea kicking off flights.
They’ve been gearing up for this reopening since January, with more expansions in the works. They’ve extended the runway to 2,000 meters and are adding more facilities for aircraft.
While there’s still work to be done, they’re aiming for completion by 2026. And get this – they’re planning to build a brand-new terminal by 2026-2027!
In the next phase of development, they’re even extending the runway further to 2,200 meters.
With plans in place all the way up to 2043, this airport is aiming to welcome a whopping 6 million passengers every year. That’ll definitely help ease the load on Naples’ Capodichino International Airport, which was bursting at the seams with 12.4 million passengers in 2023.
The Amalfi Coast has been grappling with a flood of tourists lately, so authorities are hoping that reopening this airport will help ease some of the congestion.
“I’m absolutely stoked that we’re getting the Amalfi Coast airport back up and running. For folks like us in the tourism biz, this is a total game-changer and will really solidify our spot in the industry,” said Fausto, a local tour operator.