Catania-Fontanarossa
International Airport Vincenzo Bellini
connects the city of Catania with several destinations
all over Italy and Europe. At the moment Vincenzo
Bellini airport is the biggest in southern Italy.
Catania-Fontanarossa airport – the new
Vincenzo Bellini airport
On the 5th of May 2007 the new, bigger and
more functional terminal in Catania airport
has been inaugurated, and the airport itself
has been dedicated to the Sicilian composer
Vincenzo Bellini. Vincenzo Bellini Catania-Fontanarossa
Airport, has been opened to the public on the
8th of May 2007. The new Vincenzo Bellini airport
is part of a bigger enlargement project, which
should be completed in 2012.
The new Catania-Fontanarossa terminal is 44,000
square metres big and it has two levels: one
for arrivals and the other for departures. In
addition, there is a 30 metre high tower, which
hosts offices and soon will host a panoramic
restaurant.
Catania-Fontanarossa airport – history
The first airport in Catania was inaugurated
in 1924 and it was dedicated to the meteorologist
Filippo Eredia. On 5th of May 1947 the first
‘Linee Aeree Italiane Internazionali’
(the future Alitalia) flight arrived at Catania
airport and in 1950 a bigger airport was inaugurated.
During the 60’s and 70’s the amount
of passengers increased greatly so, on 5th of
August 1981, a third and bigger version of Catania
airport was inaugurated.
Airlines flying into Catania-Fontanarossa
Vincenzo Bellini Airport
During the last few years the number of airlines
flying into Catania airport has increased greatly.
At the moment, the airlines flying from and
into Catania airport are:
- Air Berlin, Air France, Air Malta, Air One,
Air Panarea Helicopters, Alitalia, Alpieagles,
British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta, Eurofly,
TUIfly.com, Helvetic.com, Jetairfly.com, KLM/NWA,
LTU, Lufthansa, Meridiana, Myair.com, Virgin
Express, Volareweb.com and Wind Jet.
Catania-Fontanarossa Vincenzo Bellini Airport
– facilities
The new Catania airport is still expanding
and new facilities will open soon. However,
at the moment, facilities at Catania-Fontanarossa
airport include:
- Car park, with about 1022 parking spaces
- Bank and cash machine
- Post Office
- A couple of bars
- A restaurant
- Some shops, among which a bookshop/newsagent,
some souvenirs shops, a jewellery shop, a
tobacconist, an optician and a clothes shop.
- Some car renting agencies
Public transportation to and from Catania-Fontanarossa
Vincenzo Bellini Airport – how to get
there
 If
you are going into Catania city centre from
Catania airport there is an AMT bus, called
Alibus, that stops outside the airport. This
bus stops in several places in Catania city
centre and its last stop is Catania Train Station.
If instead you wish to go directly to other
places around Sicily from Catania airport, there
are various coach companies connecting the airport
with towns and villages in Sicily:
- AST
- It connects Catania-Fontanarossa Airport
with Avola, Caltagirone, Carlentini, Grammichele,
Ispica, Lentini, Mazzarrone, Mirabella Imbaccari,
Modica, Noto, Palagonia, Piazza Armerina,
Pozzallo, Rosolini, S. Michele di Ganzaria,
Scicli, Sigonella.
- Circumetnea - www.circumetnea.it
It links Catania airport with Adrano, Misterbianco,
Paternò e Randazzo, Linguaglossa, Fiumefreddo
and other nearby villages
- Etna Trasporti - www.etnatrasporti.it
Etna trasporti links Catania Airport with
Aidone, Fiumefreddo, Gela, Giardini Naxos,
Recanati, Licata, Piazza Armerina, Ragusa,
Marina di Ragusa, S. Croce Camerina, Taormina,
Valguarnera, Vizzini
- Giuntabus - www.giuntabus.it
From April to September it links Catania Vincenzo
Bellini airport with Milazzo harbour, from
which ferries going to the Aeolian Islands
depart
- Interbus
It links Catania-Fontanarossa airport with
Agira, Avola, Catenuova, Leonforte, Nicosia,
Nissoria, Noto, Pachino, Portopalo, Priolo,
Regalbuto, Siracusa
- Molica
From the 15th of June until the 15th of September
it connects Catania Vincenzo Bellini airport
with Porto Rosa, Gioiosa Marea and Capo D’Orlando.
- SAIS Trasporti - www.saistrasporti.it
SAIS Trasporti connects Catania airport with
Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Canicattì
- SAIS Autolinee - www.saisautolinee.it
It links Catania-Fontanarossa airport with
Enna, Messina, Palermo.
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