Rome Fiumicino Plans €9 Billion Expansion to Double Capacity to 100 Million Passengers

Italy is preparing a major expansion of its principal international gateway as Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) advances a long-term plan to transform Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport into a hub capable of handling approximately twice its current passenger volume.

The programme envisages €9 billion in investment without public funding, combining the construction of new infrastructure with extensive modernization of the existing airport. The ultimate objective is to accommodate as many as 100 million passengers annually by 2046, when ADR’s current concession expires.

The scale of the project reflects the rapid recovery and expansion of international aviation in the Italian capital. Fiumicino surpassed 50 million passengers for the first time in 2025, handling 51.3 million travellers, 4% more than in 2024 and 18% above 2019 levels.

€9 billion to transform Italy’s main airport

The masterplan divides investment between new capacity and improvements to existing infrastructure.

Around €5 billion is expected to finance new developments, while another €4 billion would be directed toward upgrading the airport’s existing facilities, including taxiways, aircraft aprons, road connections and other essential infrastructure.

The investment represents a strategic bet on continued expansion in international travel and on Rome’s ability to capture a larger share of long-haul traffic between Europe and markets in North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Fiumicino currently connects Rome with around 240 destinations in 80 countries, underlining its importance not only for Italian tourism but also for the country’s international connectivity.

A fourth runway and a major new terminal

Among the most significant components is a proposed fourth runway approximately 3,400 metres long, designed to increase aircraft movement capacity and improve operational efficiency.

The project also includes a new terminal complex covering roughly 350,000 square metres, with two boarding areas and 76 gates. The facilities are expected to incorporate commercial areas, green spaces and areas dedicated to cultural exhibitions.

The development would substantially reshape the physical footprint of the airport and prepare Fiumicino for passenger volumes approaching those of Europe's largest aviation gateways.

Existing infrastructure will also be redesigned

The masterplan is not limited to adding capacity.

ADR also intends to reconfigure parts of the existing airfield. One element involves shortening the current Runway 1 as the new runway enters operation, with the removed section potentially converted into a public green area.

The redesigned configuration is expected to help reduce noise exposure for surrounding communities while allowing the airport to increase overall capacity.

By 2046, aircraft movements are projected to rise from around 375,000 annually to approximately 500,000, according to local authorities examining the development proposal.

2033 becomes a critical milestone

Although the capacity plan extends to 2046, a substantial part of the transformation is intended to advance much earlier.

Airport authorities are seeking to have key infrastructure completed around 2033, when Rome is expected to experience another major influx of international visitors associated with the 2,000th anniversary traditionally linked to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The timetable adds urgency to the approval and construction process, particularly given the scale of the infrastructure involved.

Growth is already accelerating

Fiumicino’s recent performance provides the commercial rationale behind the expansion.

Passenger traffic reached a record 51.3 million in 2025, while point-to-point traffic was 32% higher than in 2019, adding more than 10 million passengers compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Demand from the United States has also become particularly important. Traffic involving US travellers has risen significantly compared with pre-pandemic levels, reinforcing Rome's position as a major gateway for transatlantic tourism.

The airport’s long-term growth prospects could also benefit from the integration of ITA Airways into the Lufthansa Group ecosystem, potentially strengthening Rome’s connectivity with additional long-haul and European feeder traffic.

Economic impact could extend far beyond aviation

The project is being presented not merely as an airport expansion but as a broader investment in Italy’s competitiveness.

Research conducted by Luiss University estimates that the masterplan could generate as much as €70 billion in additional economic value across Italy by 2046 and contribute to the creation of around 300,000 jobs when construction, airport operations and wider economic effects are considered.

The study also estimates that every year of delay could cost the Italian economy approximately €2 billion in foregone economic benefits.

For the Lazio region alone, the project could generate an estimated €18 billion in additional value and more than 67,000 jobs over the period analysed.

Expansion brings environmental challenges

The project nevertheless faces a complex planning process.

The proposed development would require an overall expansion of approximately 267 hectares, around 150 hectares of which fall within the Roman Coast State Nature Reserve. Local authorities have therefore been considering changes to the boundaries of protected areas as part of the approval process.

ADR is seeking to combine increased capacity with sustainability measures. Fiumicino has already inaugurated a large solar facility capable of producing up to 22 MW, with plans to increase airport photovoltaic capacity to 60 MW.

The challenge will be reconciling the economic benefits of greater connectivity with environmental protection, emissions reductions and the impact on neighbouring communities.

Rome targets a larger role in European aviation

Fiumicino's €9 billion programme signals a major shift in the competitive landscape of European aviation.

While several European hubs face capacity limitations, Rome is preparing infrastructure for decades of additional passenger growth. Its geographical position in the Mediterranean also offers potential advantages for connections linking Europe with Africa, the Middle East and the Americas.

If the masterplan proceeds as envisaged, Fiumicino would evolve from a 50-million-passenger airport today into a hub capable of serving approximately 100 million travellers annually, strengthening both Rome's tourism economy and Italy's position within global aviation.