Italy experienced a record-breaking year in 2023 for air traffic, surpassing pre-Covid levels with over 197 million passengers.
A 20% growth compared to 2022
According to the latest report from ENAC the Italian civilian aviation authority, this was a 2% increase over 2019 and a remarkable 20% growth compared to 2022. Pierluigi Di Palma, president of ENAC, commented, “The increase in passenger numbers and the recovery of air traffic in 2023, continuing into the first months of this year, underscores the importance of air transport for Italy. It aligns with the trend of growth and technological innovation and epitomizes the present and future of air transport.”
Rome Fiumicino-New York JFK had nearly one million passengers
Rome Fiumicino airport retained its position as Italy’s leading hub for passenger traffic, with some 40.3 million passengers. The growth, aided by the expansion of ITA Airways, propelled Leonardo da Vinci Airport back to the top spot for intercontinental routes. The Fiumicino-New York JFK route reclaimed its lead with nearly one million passengers carried in both directions (981,030), surpassing Malpensa-JFK (833,000 passengers), which held the top spot in 2022 Domestic traffic grew 6% over 2022, with 68.6 million passengers, while international traffic saw even greater growth, with 128.5 million passengers, a 28% increase from 2022.
Ryanair carried over 37 million passengers to and from Italy
Low-cost carriers carried the majority of passengers, accounting for 56% or 110.2 million passengers. Ryanair led the international front, with over 37 million passengers between Italy and Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and capturing a third of the total market segment. Wizz Air (13.18 million) and easyJet (12.31 million) followed, with ITA Airways (6.18 million) increasing its presence ,while the Spanish low-cost Vueling, a Spanish owned by IAG, carried just under 5 million passengers. Traditional carriers accounted for 44% of total passengers, with 86.8 million passengers, representing a 10% increase from the previous year.
