ENAC expands the schedules of seven Italian airports
ENAC has given a positive opinion to the gradual expansion of the operations of seven Italian airports: Rimini Federico Fellini Airport, Crotone Sant'Anna Airport, Comiso Airport, Parma Airport, Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport, Cuneo Levaldigi Airport and Forlì Airport.
The decision makes it possible to extend the opening hours of airports and, in some cases, to enhance the level of air navigation services provided by ENAV. The aim is to enhance the growth potential of regional airports, improve the efficiency of the Italian airport network and help decongest airports close to saturation.
The new airport by airport time slots
The approved amendments include:
- Rimini: extension from 16 to 24 hours, starting by the first half of 2027.
- Crotone: extension from 12 to 16 hours, effective from 1 April 2026.
- Comiso: extension from 16 to 18 hours, starting from 1 June 2026.
- Parma: extension from 16 to 18 hours, active from 1 February 2027.
- Salerno: 18-hour operation with transition from AFIS service to Tower service, by the first half of 2027.
- Cuneo: extension already in force from 10 to 14 hours, valid in both winter and summer seasons.
- Forlì: unchanged operation of 16 hours, with coverage of costs borne by the tariff system.
Benefits for Travellers and for the territories
The extension of operating schedules offers more flexibility to airlines in flight scheduling, favoring new routes and direct connections, especially to leisure destinations and international markets.
For passengers, it means more choice in departure and arrival times, more efficient connections and a better distributed airport network throughout the country. The operational extension also represents a reserve of capacity to support the major airports, helping to improve the overall balance of the system.
Cost coverage and European plan 2025-2029
The incremental costs related to the change in operations do not fall on the airport operators, but are covered through the tariff system provided for by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/317, included in the 2025-2029 performance plan submitted by ENAC to the European Commission.
The initiative is also part of the ENAC project for regional air mobility (RAM), aimed at strengthening the role of minor airports as strategic infrastructures for the economic and tourist development of the territories.
A more balanced network for Italian tourism
With the extension of timetables and the enhancement of air navigation services, the airports of Rimini, Crotone, Comiso, Parma, Salerno, Cuneo and Forlì become even more central for regional connectivity.
A measure that can encourage the arrival of new carriers, support the growth of local tourism and improve the accessibility of strategic areas of the country, from the Adriatic to Calabria, from Sicily to Campania, up to Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna.
