A total investment of €9 billion, entirely without public funding, to strengthen the capacity of the “Leonardo da Vinci” airport and upgrade its facilities: this is the sustainable development programme outlined by Aeroporti di Roma for Fiumicino Airport. At the heart of the project there is a new runway which, provided that the authorisation process is completed within the next two years, could enter service in 2033, coinciding with the Jubilee scheduled for that year.

Aeroporti di Roma’s Chief Executive Officer, Marco Troncone, outlined the outlook in an interview to the “Financial Times”, which published an in-depth report on the plan. “If the process is approved, the new runway could be ready in 2033, ideally in time for the next iconic event", said Troncone. For the CEO, the 2033 event represents a strategic opportunity for Italy, as it would support the expansion of Rome and of the country’s leading airport with new aviation infrastructure.

The project has already received approval from the Fiumicino municipal administration and backing from the Regional Government and Rome Capital; it is now under review by the central authorities. Of the planned €9 billion, €5 billion is earmarked for the creation of new capacity, while €4 billion will be allocated to the refurbishment of existing infrastructure. According to Aeroporti di Roma, the plan is crucial to the country’s international competitiveness in a rapidly evolving environment, generates significant economic and employment effects, and may facilitate accessibility improvements that would normally fall under public expenditure but would be prompted by the airport’s development.