Issue link: https://resources.genetec.com/i/974574
Rome Fiumicino hasn't always enjoyed a stellar reputation for service. At times overcrowded, it was seen by many as chaotic and in need of modernization. "Four years ago, we were the Cinderella of the rankings," says Ivan Bassato, Head of Airport Management for Aeroporti di Roma, "but we have worked hard every day to completely change the face of our airport and the services we offer." That change has been fueled by an investment of more than €1bn to expand terminals, build new infrastructure, improve services, and introduce advanced technologies. And, aer four years, the work is paying off – Fiumicino has risen up the rankings to become one of Europe's most highly rated airports for quality of service. So how has this miraculous change come to pass? A gateway to the Mediterranean Located near the Tyrrhenian coast, 35 kilometers west of the Eternal City, Fiumicino is Europe's 10th-busiest airport. It operates more than 400 flights a day and serves more than 40 million passengers a year. To provide the operations team with the capacity to handle an annual passenger increase of more than 6%, the airport has installed a new boarding area dedicated to flights outside the EU's Schengen Area, where passport control for participating nations isn't required. Coming in at close to 90,000 sq m, its 22 new gates can accommodate more than six million passengers a year. Case study The renaissance of Fiumicino There are three main terminals at Fiumicino Airport: Terminal A handles domestic flights, Terminal B both international and domestic, and Terminal C international. The airport is a meeting place for exchanges between cultures from all over the world, and it's also a community of people who keep Fiumicino open 24 hours a day. Named aer the designer of the first winged flying machine, Leonardo da Vinci, Fiumicino is Italy's busiest airport. And although its name takes inspiration from the past, a huge investment in infrastructure is preparing Fiumicino for a bright future. 1 Airports 2 Rome Fiumicino