Catania–Fontanarossa Airport
| Catania–Fontanarossa Airport Aeroporto di Catania-Fontanarossa | |||||||||||
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| IATA: CTA – ICAO: LICC | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | SAC | ||||||||||
| Location | Catania | ||||||||||
| Focus city for | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 39 ft / 12 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 37°28′00″N 15°03′50″E / 37.46667°N 15.06389°ECoordinates: 37°28′00″N 15°03′50″E / 37.46667°N 15.06389°E | ||||||||||
| Website | aeroporto.catania.it | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  CTA Location within Sicily | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Statistics (2015) | |||||||||||
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Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (Italian: aeroporto internazionale Vincenzo Bellini di Catania-Fontanarossa , English: Catania International Airport) (IATA: CTA, ICAO: LICC) also named as Vincenzo Bellini Airport, is an international airport 2.3 NM (4.3 km; 2.6 mi) southwest[1] of Catania, the second largest city on the Italian island of Sicily. It is named after the opera composer Vincenzo Bellini who was born in Catania.
It is the busiest airport in Sicily and the 6th busiest in Italy with 7.304.012 passengers in 2014.[2] Major airlines such as Alitalia, Lufthansa and Air Berlin offer services here and connect numerous European destinations such as Rome, Munich and Berlin, while low cost airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair offer extensive flights to many leisure destinations.
History
Early years
Catania Airport's history dates back to 1924, when it was the region's very first airport. During World War II it was seized by the Allies during the Sicily Campaign and used by the United States Army Air Forces as a military airfield. Twelfth Air Force used the airport as a combat airfield, stationing the 340th Bombardment Group, which flew B-25 Mitchells from 27 Aug to 19 Nov 1943. In addition, the HQ, 51st Troop Carrier Wing used the airport from 29 Sep 1943 to 29 Jun 1944. Various transport units used the airport for the rest of the war, afterward it was turned back over to civil authorities.[3]
By the late 1940s, it was clear that the airport was fast running out of space and it was deemed necessary to relocate and in 1950, the new bigger and improved Catania Airport opened for business.
After 20 years of unexpected growth and high passengers levels, in 1981 it was once again necessary to restructure the airport to cope with demand.
Development since the 2000s
In order to cope with the increasing passengers figures, a new terminal, equipped with 22 gates and 6 loading bridges, opened on 8 May 2007 replacing the old facilities. The current "investment programme" has ensured that Catania Fontanarossa Airport continues to look forward and plan for growth over the next ten years, implementing a whole new infrastructure and making many additions, including a panoramic restaurant, a new airside runway and further office space.
Ryanair started to fly to Catania in 2013 but announced only one route to Catania while also starting operations with 3 routes to Comiso Airport, a newly opened in 2013 airport located approximately 100 km from Catania, near the city of Ragusa.[4]
In August 2014, Air One announced the closure of its operations including the shutdown of its Catania base on 30 September 2014.[5]
Airlines and destinations
Ground transportation
Car
The airport is conveniently located close to the A19 motorway, which links Catania with Palermo and central Sicily, while the European route E45 runs to Syracuse in the south. Passengers can also take a taxi from the terminal building into the city or beyond, with popular locations including nearby Syracuse, Taormina, and the westerly resorts of Palermo and Marsala.
Bus
A shuttle bus service provides transport into Catania city centre and the Central Train Station, while scheduled bus services to other parts of the island are also available direct from the airport.
See also
- Palermo Airport Falcone e Borsellino – also known as Punta Raisi Airport, another of Sicily's international airports
- Trapani Birgi Airport Vincenzo Florio – another of Sicily's international airports
- Comiso Airport Vincenzo Magliocco – another of Sicily's international airports
References
- 1 2 EAD Basic
- 1 2 Associazione Italiana Gestori Aeroportuali
- ↑ Maurer Maurer, ed. (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
- ↑ Ryanair Announce Comiso January 2013
- ↑ http://www.lastampa.it/2014/08/26/blogs/allacciate-le-cinture/airone-chiude-le-operazioni-nessun-volo-prenotabile-ad-ottobre-ocGOzoGnSaLIOzds9WguXP/pagina.html
- ↑ http://www.airvallee.it/en/
- ↑ https://www.alitalia.com/en_it/
- ↑ http://airlineroute.net/2015/11/26/u2-ams-may16/
- ↑ "New routes for summer 2015". easyJet.
- ↑ https://beta.ryanair.com/gb/en/
- ↑ Transavia Opens Munich Base from late-March 2016
- ↑ JL (20 March 2014). "Ural Airlines Adds New Routes to Catania / Budapest in S14". Airline Route. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
- ↑ <http://www.volotea.com/it/?&esvadt=999999-528902-99826-1&esvq=volotea&esvrq=volotea&esvcrea=5156328867&esvd=c&esvt=11520-MSITe&esvaid=50027
- ↑ "WIZZ AIR ANNOUNCES 5TH AIRCRAFT AND 8 NEW ROUTES IN WARSAW". Wizz Air. 6 August 2014.
External links
Media related to Catania–Fontanarossa Airport at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- Current weather for LICC at NOAA/NWS
- Accident history for CTA at Aviation Safety Network
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