Rome is betting on the future of air transport. This Christmas, Fiumicino Airport will reach the milestone of 50 million passengers, including arrivals, departures and transfers. But the real goal is to double that figure and reach the impressive threshold of 100 million within the next twenty years, allowing it to compete on equal footing with global giants such as Paris, London, Madrid, Istanbul and Dubai.
This is why Aeroporti di Roma has set out an ambitious project in black and white: the Fiumicino Masterplan 2046, a €9 billion scheme entirely self-financed, which will reshape Leonardo da Vinci Airport with new infrastructure and a new strategic vision. The plan aims to transform Rome’s main airport and open up new routes between Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America — markets expected to grow rapidly over the coming decades.
According to a study by Luiss University, the economic impact would be enormous: with 100 million passengers by 2046, the Lazio region alone would generate €18 billion in added value and more than 67,000 new jobs.
This vast structural undertaking includes the construction of a fourth runway to the east, the downsizing of Runway 1 to make way for an archaeological park; a new terminal located away from residential areas with three additional piers; a people mover system to connect the different areas of the hub; and the reorganisation of the hangar zone.
To truly compete in the race for mega-hubs, a decisive infrastructure leap is therefore required, as competition is not slowing down. Istanbul has just inaugurated three new runways, Addis Ababa and Riyadh are planning airports designed for over 100 million passengers, while Dubai is aiming as high as 260 million.
If the sky is the limit, Rome has chosen to look up: Fiumicino no longer wants to be just an airport, but the Mediterranean’s strategic gateway to the world, where infrastructure, growth and vision come together to bring the capital back to the heart of the world’s major global routes.
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