Rzym 2023-06-12
Rome Airport, Ciampino, CIA.
Geographical coordinates; 41.798N 12.595E. Elevation 130 m.
Rome airports.
A few words about airports in Rome. Currently (2023) Rome has two commercial airports. The first of them was built in the town of Ciampino near Rome, in the south-eastern direction, about 15 km from the center of Rome. The date of establishment of the airport can be assumed as 1918. The airport had military functions. But already in the 30s of the twentieth century, passenger traffic began to develop intensively on it. PLL LOT planes from Warsaw also flew here. A huge boom in passenger and freight transport took place just after the end of the Second World War. Ciampino airport benefited from its good location, on the route of North Africa and the Middle East and Western Europe (mainly France and Great Britain). The then propeller-driven planes did not have such a long range and had to use intermediate airports. Planes had to be refueled in Rome. The Ciampino Airport was famous when the British De Havilland Comet planes (the world's first turbojet passenger planes) taking off from this airport suffered catastrophes. (Twice; January 10, 1954 and April 8, 1954).
The systematically increasing traffic at Ciampino Airport forced Italy to build a new Fiumicino Airport. Construction began in 1962 and it is now Italy's largest airport with three terminals.
In the intention, the Italians planned the complete liquidation of Ciampino Airport. Nevertheless, the government aircraft of the Republic of Italy and the military naval aviation are based at Ciampino Airport. The latter perform maritime patrol functions and carry out SAR tasks. It was from this airport that Pope John Paul II and then Benedict XVI departed on the pilgrim trail. On the other hand, since 2003, so-called low-cost aviation has been developing intensively in Europe. The Irish company Ryanair has found one of its bases here. Thus, it is unlikely that Ciampino Airport will be closed in the coming years.
Basic data of Ciampino Airport (2023). Proper name - Giovan Battista Pastine. Civil-military airport. CIA (IATA organization), LIRA (ICAO organization) code. Coordinates: 41°47'57.7″N 12°35'41.77″E (41.798N 12.595E). Altitude: 130 meters above sea level The airport has one RWY with dimensions of 2,207 m x 47 m, in the direction of 15/33, with a concrete surface. In 2006, the airport handled 4,945,158 passengers, and in 2018, 5,839,737 passengers. In 2007, another departure pavilion was added. In 2019, 53,321 air operations were performed at the airport.
The largest airline operator from Ciampino airport is Ryanair, which operates flights from the CIA to 38 airports in Europe. The airport is also used by WizzAir (Hungary), which maintains connections with 9 cities in Europe.
The terminal is a one-story building consisting of several pavilions. The terminal is able to handle up to 7 million passengers a year, provided there are no disruptions and unexpected failures. The departure area is clearly separated from the arrival area. At CIA Airport, Ryanair passengers are checked in from Departure Hall A, where there are 8 gates. There is also pavilion "B" and a special pavilion "C". There is a standard duty-free shop between the security zone and the departure pavilion. Practically, the entire pavilion is filled with seats for travelers. There is of course a buffet and toilets. Due to the lack of space, there is no entertainment corner for children. Travel information is displayed on monitors and audio messages are provided. The advantage of the pavilion is the possibility of taking pictures of planes taking off and landing, along the entire length of the RWY. However, the photos are taken against the backdrop of colorful apartment blocks and a nearby train stop.
Ciampino Airport is also a large Cargo Airport. In 2018, the airport handled 18,258.67 tonnes of goods. The Cargo Terminal is located in the southern part of the airport.
For Poles, a nice touch at the CIA airport is the sight of Polish SOLARIS platform buses.
Arrival at the CIA airport.
By road, the CIA airport is well connected to Rome and other cities in Italy. The airport is located on the Via Appia Nuova road. The CIA is close to the Rome Ring Road (GRA) and the East-West and North-South highways. There are car parks for around 1,800 cars and motorcycles near the airport. There are 8 places for people with disabilities at the terminal itself. Up to 15 minutes, parking in the car park in front of the terminal is free.
There are numerous bus and bus companies that provide transportation on the route CIA - Termini (Rome train station). In 2023, a normal ticket cost around 8 EURO. A good connection choice is; city bus - subway - suburban railway. Public transport tickets can be purchased at the airport. A 7-day ticket costs 24 EURO. The taxi stand is located next to the arrivals hall. We personally advise against this means of transport. Taxi drivers charge extra for luggage, and taxi travel is not pleasant. In general, drivers in Rome are very jerky because you have to squeeze between other cars. Fee 100 EURO per course; CIA - Termini is the norm. A good option is the city bus to the first station of the metro line "A" - Anagnina.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman