A new record for Aeroporti di Roma with nearly 49 million passengers passing through the capital’s two airports in 2018. This historic performance was achieved thanks to the growth of Fiumicino Airport, which reached 43 million passengers, with a 4.9% increase compared to 2017. Contributing to driving this progress was long-haul traffic, which increased by 14.4%. Good results were achieved for goods transport, too, which rose by 10.9% compared to the previous year and surpassed 200,000 tonnes.

The optimum performance recorded, which confirms the Roman airport system's first-place standing in Italy for volumes of traffic, is the result of the international promotion of the airport and of Rome as a destination that has taken place in recent years. In 2018, it allowed Leonardo da Vinci Airport to welcome 6 new international airlines, such as Latam with new connections to Brazil, and Pobeda with a new selection of flights to Russia. At the same time, the number of international destinations with direct connections from Fiumicino Airport has been joined by 6 new ones including San Francisco and Johannesburg, in addition to significant increases to direct connections with Guangzhou.

“The results achieved by the Roman airport system”, stated Giovanni Castellucci, CEO of Atlantia, “confirm the validity of the journey undertaken in the search for excellence in the services provided to passengers and companies. And the efficiency of the global promotion of the airport and Rome as a destination, making a contribution to the competitiveness of the Italian system.”

“The optimum performances recorded in 2018”, added Ugo de Carolis, CEO of ADR, “place Fiumicino Airport as one of the hubs of reference that are more and more appreciated by Asian and American customers. With particular reference to Greater China, Fiumicino Airport is confirmed as one of the main gateways to Europe, thanks to the 10 destinations with direct connections to the Asian Giant.”

The results obtained have allowed for significant growth in the main areas of international traffic, including South America, which grew 24.4% compared to 2017, and North America (United States and Canada), which rose by 16.3%. The trend in the Far East is also particularly relevant, as it records an increase of 15.2% of passengers in 2018 compared to the previous year, which is also thanks to the use of new and larger aircraft by Chinese carriers such as Air China, Hainan and China Airlines. The short- and mid-haul international market is also on the rise, which recorded a 4% growth in 2018, surpassing 21 million passengers.