Rome Fiumicino Airport (ADR) has proposed a $9 billion development plan to significantly expand its capacity to 100 million passengers per year by 2046. The plan includes building a new four-runway layout, a third terminal, and upgrading existing infrastructure. This ambitious project is funded entirely by ADR, controlled by Mundys (Benetton family and Blackstone), without public funds, allocating $4 billion for existing infrastructure maintenance and $5 billion for new developments.
The expansion is critical for Fiumicino to maintain its competitiveness and accommodate growing passenger traffic. The airport welcomed over 40 million passengers in the previous year. However, the project faces potential delays due to a lengthy approval process involving institutional clearance, technical approvals from the Italian airport regulator ENAC, an environmental impact assessment, and a multi-agency review. The entire approval process alone could take 18-24 months, with construction of a new runway estimated to take three years after approval.
There is a sense of urgency, with officials emphasizing that delays could lead to Fiumicino falling behind other European airports like Lisbon, which has already secured approval for its expansion. The plan was submitted to ENAC in 2021 and is still under assessment. The expansion is not only vital for the airport but also for enhancing Rome, Lazio, and Italy's attractiveness to tourists, businesses, and investors.
