Fiumicino Airport (Leonardo da Vinci) (FCO)

also commonly known as Fiumicino Airport, is Italy's largest airport and the first international air gateway of the country, with 35,226,351 passengers served in 2008, located in Fiumicino, 35 km from Rome's historic city center. It was the world's 25th busiest airport by passenger traffic in 2008, and the sole hub for Alitalia. The airport is named after the Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci, who first designed a proto helicopter and a flying machine with wings.  The airport officially opened on January 15, 1961 with two runways, replacing the small Rome Ciampino Airport which remains in service for domestic and charter operations.

During the decade Alitalia invested heavily on the new airport, building hangars and maintenance centers; in the same period a third runway was added (16L/34R). Four runways presently operate at Leonardo da Vinci airport: 16L/34R and 16R/34L (separated by a distance of 4,000 metres), 16C/34C (close to 16L/34R), mostly used as a taxiway or as a backup of 16L/34R, and 07/25, used only westwards for takeoffs due to dominant winds. Since 2005 the airport operates a category III B instrument landing system (ILS). Further improvement work was implemented in 2007 to enable the airport to handle 30 takeoffs/landings, up from 10, in the event of thick fog. Chances are you will be flying into Rome or Milan if you are flying from North America. Rome is the less modern of the two major airports in Italy. Plan on arriving 3 hours before your flight if you are not staying near the airport. For more information: www.adr.it

Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA)

 is a joint civilian, commercial and military airport near Rome in Italy. The airport is situated 6.5 NM (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) south southeast of central Rome, just outside the Greater Ring Road (Italian: Grande Raccordo Anulare or GRA) the circular motorway around the city. Ciampino airport was opened in 1916 and is one of the oldest airports still in operation. It was Rome's main airport until 1960, with traffic amounting to over 2 million passengers per year. Since the opening of Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport in Fiumicino, Ciampino has been handling almost exclusively charter and executive flights. After decades of stagnation in scheduled traffic, low-cost carriers have boosted Ciampino; it is now one of the busiest and fastest growing airports in Italy. Passenger traffic in 2007 was 5,402,000 (9,24% up from 2006; 2006 itself had seen an increase of 16,75% compared to 2005). Traffic has grown so much that noise complaints are now forcing the Italian Ministry of Transport to look for a third airport for Rome, which could take over some part of the excess traffic of Ciampino. Passenger traffic in 2008 was 4.788.931 with a decrease of 11% compared to 2007. In November 2007, it was decided that Rome Viterbo Airport will become Rome's third commercial airport.

Rome Viterbo Airport  (LIRV)

is a proposed re-use of Viterbo Air Force Base, a civilian, commercial and military airport 50 kilometers north of Rome, Italy. Originally opened as a military airport in 1936, the airfield was dedicated to Tommaso Fabbri and is situated 3 km north of the town of Viterbo in the Lazio region. On November 26, 2007, Italian transport minister Alessandro Bianchi announced that Viterbo had been chosen by the Italian Ministry of Transport as the site of the next Airport to serve Rome, alongside Leonardo da Vinci Airport, and Rome Ciampino Airport. The terminals were extended at the beginning of 2007. For more information: www.adr.it 

MILAN (MXP)

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is Milan's largest airport. It is located 21.58 NM (39.97 km; 24.83 mi) northwest of central Milan, Italy. It is one of 3 airports in the Milan metropolitan area. The airport is connected to Milan by the Milano-Varese highway as well as by the "Malpensa Express" train starting from the Milan Cadorna railway station (LeNord regional railways) and taking about 41 minutes. It is also connected to Linate Airport by a scheduled bus service and by Milan's local transportation. The Milan airport system has a third international airport, Orio al Serio Airport, which serves low-cost traffic. Malpensa handled over 23.8 million passengers in 2007 (over 33 million with Linate, the second airport of Milan, closer to downtown and over 39 million with Orio al Serio Airport, Milan's low-cost airport). As of early 2008, Malpensa remains the top Italian airport in terms of international traffic, together with Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport in terms of total passengers. As far as hub transit passengers are concerned it is also the second airport in Italy after Rome, according to ASSAEROPORTI traffic data. It is also the leading air freight gateway to Italy. Malpensa serves a population of over 15 million inhabitants. For more information: www.sea-aeroportimilano.it

Milan Linate Airport (LIN)

is one of the two major airports of Milan, Italy, along with Malpensa Airport. Due to its closer proximity to Milan, it is 4.2 NM (7.8 km; 4.8 mi) east southeast of the city, compared with Malpensa, which is 21.58 NM (39.97 km; 24.83 mi) northwest of the city,it is mainly used for domestic and short-haul international flights, with over 9.6 million passengers in 2006. Its name comes from the small village where it is located in the town of Peschiera Borromeo. Its real name is "Airport Enrico Forlanini", after the Italian inventor and aeronautical pioneer born in Milan. Linate airport buildings are located in the Segrate Municipality, and the field is located for a large part in the Peschiera Borromeo Municipality. It was built next to Idroscalo of Milan in the 1930s when Taliedo Airport (located 1 km (0.62 mi) from the southern border of Milan), and one of the world's first aerodromes and airports, became too small for commercial traffic. Linate was completely rebuilt in the 1950s and again in the 1980s. For more information www.sea-aeroportimilano.it   

VENICE (VCE)

Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE) is an airport located on the Italian mainland 4.3 NM (8.0 km; 4.9 mi) north of Venice, Italy, in Tessera, a frazione of the commune of Venice nearest to Mestre. The airport was named after the Venetian traveller Marco Polo, who is considered the European rediscoverer of China. With 8,602,652 passengers having passed through the airport in 2008, it is the third largest Italian airport in terms of air traffic. A modern terminal, opened in 2002 but already close to its full capacity, hosts all scheduled and charter flights, including some long-haul connections by Air Transat to Toronto-Pearson and Montréal-Trudeau, Delta Air Lines to New York-JFK and Atlanta-Hartsfield, Emirates Airline to Dubai International, and US Airways to Philadelphia international. For more information: www.veniceairport.it  The hassle factor is high wit arrival to Venice because the airport is located on land and you must take a boat, car-boat combination if you want to arrive to central Venice. We recommend booking a private transfer from the airport. 

NAPLES (NAP)

Naples (Capodichino) International Airport (NAP): official name is "Ugo Niutta", is the airport serving Naples, Italy. It is located 3.24 NM (6.00 km; 3.73 mi) north northeast of the city in the Capodichino district of Naples. The airport has 2 terminals; however, terminal 2 is located away from the airfield and is only used for charter operations. Terminal 1 is the terminal building for departing travelers. The airport is operated by GE.S.A.C., a corporation participated by the British airport company BAA. In March 2003 GE.S.A.C. assumed total management of Naples International Airport with a 40 year license valid until 2043. For more information: www.gesac.it 

PALERMO (PMO)

Palermo International Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO): also known as Falcone-Borsellino Airport and Punta Raisi Airport is located at Punta Raisi, 19 NM (35 km; 22 mi) west northwest of Palermo, the capital city of the Italian island of Sicily. The airport is one of the busiest in Italy, with 4,446,142 passengers in 2008. The airport was given the name Falcone-Borsellino in memory of the two leading anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino who were murdered by the mafia in 1992. A 1.90-metre (6 ft 3 in) diameter plaque featuring their portraits can be found to the right of one the main outside entrance to the departure hall, set into a mosaic of Sicily. Created by the sicilian sculptor Tommaso Geraci, it bears the inscription Giovanni Falcone – Paolo Borsellino – Gli Altri – L'orgoglio della Nuova Sicilia (Giovanni Falcone – Paolo Borsellino – The Others – The Pride of the New Sicily). For more information: www.gesap.it 

FLORENCE (FLR)

Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR): is an airport located close to Florence, Italy, but administratively located within the territory of Sesto Fiorentino. It is one of two main airports in the Tuscany region, the other being Galileo Galilei International Airport near Pisa. It is a small airport, with a single runway and the main taxiway is situated at the end of runway 05, with an overshoot/holding area at the end of runway 23. As is common with smaller airports, after landing planes turn around at the end of the runway, they taxi back down the runway to reach the parking area and terminal. In 1990, the airport was named after Florence native Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant and cartographer. The first air field in Florence was created in the Campo di Marte area in 1910 when military authorities allowed the great field to be used for "Experiments in Air Navigation". Campo di Marte thus became Florence's first airport, and remained so throughout the Twenties. Soon surrounded by houses, the flight field became inadequate for the new aircraft that were then replacing the first canvas-covered craft. A more suitable area for the airport was needed and in 1928 the locality "Cipresso del Nistro" on the plain between Florence and Sesto Fiorentino was chosen. The Peretola airport was inaugurated there in the early Thirties. For more information: www.safnet.it