From Rome to the world: what's new for summer 2026
Summer 2026 marks a new step forward for the Roman airport system. On the one hand, Rome Fiumicino strengthens its position among the best connected airports in the world, further expanding the intercontinental and European network; on the other hand, Rome Ciampino confirms its point-to-point vocation with a concentrated and functional offer, particularly oriented towards leisure and short-medium haul connections. In this interview, Federico Scriboni, Aviation Business Director of Aeroporti di Roma, illustrates numbers, new routes, growing markets and distinctive factors that make Fiumicino and Ciampino two complementary and strategic airports for air mobility in the capital and for passengers departing in summer 2026.
During Summer 2026, how many countries, destinations and airlines will the Rome Fiumicino offer be able to count on?
"After being positioned, according to research by Cirium, as the tenth best-connected airport in the world in 2024, during 2025 Rome Fiumicino airport continued to further strengthen its ranking, rising to ninth place in the ranking, ahead of Summer 2026. This season, from the Roman airport it will be possible to reach 5 continents, about 80 countries and over 240 destinations, thanks to the contribution of about 100 operating airlines, confirming the central role of Fiumicino on the international scene".
What are the main news of Summer 2026 from Fiumicino in terms of new destinations and carriers involved?
"For Summer 2026, Fiumicino Airport plans a significant expansion of its network, with the introduction of numerous new routes and the arrival of new airlines. Among the main intercontinental innovations are the connections with Seattle: in this context, Fiumicino will be the first European launch airport for Alaska Airlines and the route will also be operated by Delta, making its debut on this destination. There will also be a new ITA Airways flight to Houston, which will connect Italy to the Texan city for the first time, together with the return of Air India with a direct connection to Delhi, which has been absent from the airport for six years. On the Middle East side, the entry of the new carrier Air Arabia is expected, which will operate a daily flight to Sharjah. Also on the European front, the network is enriched with new routes, including Tallinn, Alexandria and other destinations operated by Wizz Air, Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle with easyJet, the dynamic Billund with Norwegian, the picturesque Limoges with Volotea, Krakow with LOT Polish and many other innovations. With these additions, Fiumicino further expands its offer to destinations with strong tourist, cultural and business appeal, confirming its role as a strategic hub for intercontinental and European connections".
Which are the main destinations that will benefit from a strengthening of frequencies in the summer season?
"In addition to the start of numerous new operations, Summer 2026 will represent an important opportunity to consolidate and strengthen the flights already operating at Fiumicino. In Asia, Cathay Pacific will introduce a fourth weekly frequency to Hong Kong, while extending the period of operation, while Singapore Airlines will extend the fifth frequency for a further two months compared to 2025. In the Americas, the offer will be further seasonally adjusted: Miami, Minneapolis and Denver will be operated for the entire summer season by American Airlines, Delta and United respectively, while LATAM Airlines will bring forward by three months the increase in daily flights to São Paulo, making it available also in the shoulder months. Africa will also see more travel opportunities, with Ethiopian Airlines operating two daily flights to Addis Ababa starting in June. Finally, Qantas Airways will double its offering to Perth, extending its operating period and increasing it to four weekly flights, providing more and better travel opportunities to Australia. On the continental front, the positioning of new aircraft by Wizz Air will allow both the launch of new routes and the enhancement of existing connectivity. In general, a consolidation of the operations of European carriers is expected, with a complete offer to the main leisure and business destinations of the continent, also by the hub carrier, with the new routes to Malaga, Valencia and Marseille".
Which markets or geographical areas are driving Fiumicino's growth the most, including long-haul, Europe and domestic traffic?
"Fiumicino has been the airport, among the largest in Europe, to grow the most in recent years, going from 43.5 million passengers in 2019 to 51.3 million in 2025, marking an increase of 18% which corresponds to a net increase of 7.8 million passengers. The development takes on an even more significant value if we look at the size of the so-called point-to-point traffic, which grew by over 10 million passengers in the same period (32%), highlighting a solid and constantly expanding demand. Looking at various segments, North America remains the most relevant long-haul market, with around 4.7 million passengers in 2025, up 4% compared to 2024 and 40% compared to 2019. In 2026, the offer to North America will continue to expand, reaching record levels with 22 connected stopovers and up to 42 daily departures on the days of greatest operational intensity. Asia-Pacific also maintains a strategic role for Rome. Greater China is currently served by six airlines with eight destinations, while traffic to Southeast Asia continues to record appreciable growth rates. South America and Africa represent new strategic opportunities, in particular thanks to the entry of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa group, which will help to further strengthen the role of the Roman hub as a reference gateway for Southern Europe to these markets. Finally, the short and medium haul continues to constitute the most dimensionally significant share of traffic with a growth of 4% compared to 2024 and 16% to 2019".
How many destinations and how many countries will be reachable from Rome Ciampino in Summer 2026 and which airlines operate at the airport?
"Ciampino presents itself with a more concentrated network offered, with 24 routes to 14 countries, mainly in Europe and the Mediterranean, maintaining a strong point-to-point vocation. On the carrier front, the airport is characterized by a very focused presence, with Ryanair as the main operator, supporting a high-frequency offer on the destinations served. The summer will offer connections with the main European capitals such as London, Bucharest, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Tirana and Warsaw, as well as numerous travel opportunities to leisure destinations, both domestic such as Cagliari and Olbia and international, such as Fez and Marrakesh".
How do Fiumicino and Ciampino complement each other today to meet the needs of different audiences, including business, leisure, low-cost and international connections?
"Today, the airports of Fiumicino and Ciampino tend to complement each other in a rather natural way: the former intercepts a wider and more articulated demand, including international demand, while the latter maintains a leaner and more flexible size, contributing together to cover different travel needs without an excessively rigid distinction between the various segments".
If you had to highlight three good reasons for choosing to leave from Fiumicino or Ciampino in Summer 2026, which ones would you indicate to passengers?
"Both airports stand out for their high-quality commercial offering and constant attention to the passenger, as evidenced by the numerous awards received. Fiumicino is one of the few airports in the world to have obtained the prestigious 5-star Skytrax award and has been awarded "Best Airport in Europe" by ACI for the ninth consecutive year in 2025. Ciampino, in turn, has been recognized for the third consecutive year as "Best Airport in Europe" in the category between 2 and 5 million passengers per year by ACI. The travel opportunities offered by both airports are many, guaranteeing comfort and accessibility, with modern infrastructures and constantly improving services that make the travel experience faster, smoother and more engaging. In short, starting from Fiumicino or Ciampino means combining excellence of service, breadth of offer and practicality".
Interview by Angela Trivigno
Avion Tourism Magazine
Photo: Copyright © ADR Press Office - Aeroporti di Roma
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Photo Rome: editorial use: Copyright © Sisterscom.com / Shutterstock
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