An Airport Is Reopening in One of Italy’s Most Beloved Destinations

06.03.2024 - 23:07 / afar.com

After being shuttered for seven years, the historic Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is reopening its doors this summer as part of an architectural revamp and hub reboot aimed at providing better access to the Cilento area and environs.

On July 11, Salerno Costa d’Amalfi will welcome its first commercial flight starting with an arrival from Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea. Travelers to the Amalfi Coast can anticipate smoother access to the UNESCO-designated region with additional international airlines and flights expected to join the growing roster of carriers that will serve the hub.

“Symbolically, [the airport reopening] shows how much southern Italy has changed and is on the [rise],” says Danielle Oteri, founder of Feast Travel, a travel advisor with deep knowledge of the Cilento area. Oteri notes that tourists still have reluctance to visit areas of southern Italy beyond the Amalfi Coast like the Parco Nazionale di Cilento and other, lesser-known beach destinations. “The airport is a symbol that that era is long gone,” says Oteri.

Located 12 miles from Salerno, 28 miles from Amalfi, and 45 miles from Napoli, the Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is more than an alternative to Napoli-Capodichino Airport, southern Italy’s gateway hub (which sees as many as 12 million passengers annually). It’s a better choice for those wanting to explore the Campania region and southern Italy. Travelers can expect fewer crowds during its opening year before operations fully ramp up. Additionally, services will be newer, cleaner, and more efficient.

A rendering of the forthcoming Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport

Courtesy of Atelier Alfonso Femia

The Salerno airport is a short drive from picturesque coastal destinations like Cetara, Ravello, Amalfi, and Positano along the famed Costiera Amalfitana (Amalfi Coast), which consistently ranks as one of the top destinations in Italy.

The reopening of Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport comes at a time when the increasing popularity of the Amalfi Coast has brought more visitors, more luxury hotels, and higher prices. Salerno is part of the Cilento region, a vast territory in southern Italy that spans from the coast to the Cilento mountains (including Cervati, Monte Stella, and Gelbison) with hamlets, archaeological sites, and scores of regional food products, such as mozzarella di bufala, white figs, and olive oil with a DOP (denominazione di origine protetta, protected designation of origin certification) or IGP (indicazione geografica protetta, protected geographical indication) designation. In one afternoon you can taste the best mozzarella in the world in Battipaglia, explore ancient temples in Paestum, and then enjoy cocktails on the beach at Vietri sul Mare.

“Salerno is a great