At Fiumicino airport, a discussion on the future of Italian air transport
An important moment of discussion dedicated to the future of Italian air transport was held at Rome Fiumicino Airport. At the renovated Terminal 5 of the "Leonardo da Vinci", ENAC and Aeroporti di Roma promoted the meeting "Competition and air transport in the system of strategic infrastructures", organized together with the "Antonio Catricalà" Air Transport Observatory, born from the collaboration between ENAC and the Luiss School of Law.
The initiative brought together institutions, academia and operators in the sector to explore the strategic role of airports in Italy's competitiveness, in a global scenario characterized by increasingly rapid industrial and technological transformations. The debate focused on key issues for Travellers: competition, quality of services, passenger rights and infrastructure development.
Airports and competitiveness: a system at the service of passengers
During the meeting, it was highlighted how the liberalization of air transport, launched in Italy almost 30 years ago, has favored greater competitiveness and an expansion of the offer, making flying more accessible and strengthening national and international connectivity.
The guiding principle reiterated by ENAC is clear: the passenger remains the fulcrum of the system. The protection of rights, quality of service and inclusiveness are essential elements to guarantee the right to mobility in a solid regulatory context oriented towards fair competition.
The discussion also underlined the importance of targeted investments in the Italian airport system, with particular attention to airports of strategic interest, to support intermodality and consolidate Italy's role in European and intercontinental connections.
The symbolic value of Fiumicino
The choice of Terminal 5 as the venue for the meeting is not accidental. The Roman airport, managed by Aeroporti di Roma, has been confirmed as the best hub in Europe for the ninth consecutive year according to ACI World and represents a model of integration between infrastructure, quality of services and cultural enhancement.
After hosting the celebrations for the airport's 65th anniversary in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, Terminal 5 confirms itself as a space for dialogue and reflection on the strategies that guide the future of the sector.
Infrastructure and culture: the work "The Golden Bough"
On the occasion of the event, the exhibition of the work "The Golden Bough" (2014) by the artist Giosetta Fioroni, on loan from the Giosetta Fioroni Foundation, was inaugurated. The work will remain on display until April 2027.
The painting, inspired by the theme of passage and transformation, symbolically recalls travel as an experience of change and rebirth. A message that reinforces the dimension of the airport not only as a technical infrastructure, but as a modern gateway and symbolic place of connection between people, territories and cultures.
A strategic sector for tourism and the economy
The meeting held at Rome Fiumicino Airport reaffirmed how air transport represents a fundamental lever for the economic and tourist development of the country. In an increasingly competitive international context, modern and efficient airports help to attract investments, facilitate tourist flows and support the growth of territories.
For Travellers, the strengthening of the infrastructure network and the quality of services offered by Italian airports mean greater connectivity, more travel opportunities and high standards of hospitality.
The initiative saw speeches by the Mayor of Fiumicino Mario Baccini, the CEO of Aeroporti di Roma Marco Troncone, the President of ENAC Pierluigi Di Palma, the President of ADR Vincenzo Nunziata and Professor Aristide Police of the Luiss School of Law, with the conclusions entrusted to Gianni Letta, former Undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council, and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Edoardo Rixi.
