Abruzzo Airport

Early years

Parking and terminal

In 1973 the English historian Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, then living in Abruzzo, organised a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Genoa to Pescara as a test flight for a large commercial aircraft to test the feasibility of the approach and landing at Pescara.^[3] With the British Caledonian chief pilot an (Ex-RAF) and Halpenny (also Ex-RAF) on board this manoeuvre was successfully accomplished;^[3] now opening up the airport and the region for tourism.^[3] Halpenny then arranged for a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Gatwick London and fly to and land at Pescara and return to Gatwick.^[3] Commercial flights were now shown to be possible.^[3]

Apron view

As of 1 February 1979, Itavia was forced to suspend its flights to Pescara due to the revision of the "minimum" on some Italian airports dell'ANPAC implemented by the National Association of Civil Aviation Pilots. Raising the minimum in question (distance to the runway and its share – which the pilot must decide whether to continue the landing) depends on proper radio support (such as ILS, Instrument Landing System), and a clear view is essential for landing aircraft in conditions of poor visibility. Itavia itself ceased operations in June 1980. After the dark period during which the Liberi Airport does not have any connecting line, you start to see a little 'light by restoring the link with the capital of Lombardy, still Ancona, performed by Aermediterranea, a company belonging to the group and IRI owned by Alitalia, which will be operated from 1981 to 1983.

Tower control

Since 1984, the flight to Milan Linate Airport is managed company of the other group: ATI (Italian Aero Transport) based in Naples. In 1988 it was the turn of the national flag carrier, which brings into play the modern MD-80 and use them until 1994, succeeding on and off, to make the much-awaited direct connection with Milan.

Development since the 1990s

Air One was founded as Aliadriatica in 1983 as a flight school and air taxi companies for services in Abruzzo. In 1996 the current terminal opened and the old building was converted for use by technical and logistical support. The project has enabled the airport to offer more comfort and efficiency of service. In the past Airtransat served Toronto but closed this route in 2012.

The development of the airport, from which 114,000 passengers in 2000 rose to over 600,000 in 2015, is due to the low-cost phenomenon that affected all of Europe and most small Italian airports, benefiting Pescara. Today the airport has a catchment area of over 600,000 passengers annually and connects the city of Pescara and the entire region with many Italian and European destinations.

Initially expected in early 2008 are left at year-end work for the modernization and expansion of the passenger: the arrivals area is not Schengen has been completely redesigned and rebuilt the side of the current (1,500 m²), while the space currently occupied will be converted into the departure area; well as the expansion of the airport at the beginning of 2017 were completed the following works:^[4]

• retrofitting and retrofit completed in late 2008;
• The expansion of the apron 2 completed in January 2009;
• The expansion of the airport to the west completed in 2011;
• Building offices and accommodation Flight Police Department completed in May 2014;
• Resurfacing the runway and take-off completed in March 2017;

The master plan of development and modernization of the Abruzzo Airport also provides further upgrading works in the airside area landside to the overall cost of 33 Euro million among which are:^[5]

Interior Terminal

• The construction of new gates, that will become 5, and a commercial area (bars, shops, business room, rental stations) that will be repainted and refurbished for a total of 7,800 m² (compared to the current 6,300) and in the Schengen area and domestic arrivals; the objective of this work is to increase the number of passengers;
• General redesign of the terminal and terminal atrium;
• Construction of a plant for the treatment of water;
• The renovation of the toilets of the departures area and domestic arrivals area;
• The union of domestic and international arrivals hall;
• Modernization of the baggage belts;
• The installation of photovoltaic system on the roof;
• New trim and fittings in the redeveloped areas;
• Modernization and redesign of the parking system;
• Replacing the computer infrastructure;
• Expansion of the airport security system and video surveillance;
• Investments for the removal of some structures, once used for military purposes which are then sold to private Air Force, to increase the number of parking spaces for aircraft;
• Construction of two new hangars and cargo area;
• Construction of new helipad for the nuclei of law enforcement and a new small square for the Coast Guard;
• Lengthening of the runway and take-off and construction of a new garage for cars;
• Rail link;

The 8 March 2017 left the yard on the landside operations for the terminal passengers redevelopment,^[6] while the remaining works of improvement and modernization of the airport should still be carried out and completed within the year 2018. In particular, the new Arrivals hall was inaugurated in September 2018, while the new Departures hall and the commercial centre will open in October 2018.

Currently the building of the old passenger terminal was converted to a warehouse and was employed by the airline cargoTNTup to December 2008 and operated by Maersk until October 2010.

A journalistic investigation carried out in September 2018 revealed that Abruzzo Airport has the cheapest airport parking in Italy.^[7]

Bus

The airport is connected to the center of Pescara with 8 and 38 line code TUA (the regional public transportation company), with which you can reach Piazza della Repubblica, the Bus Terminal serving domestic and international destinations. The bus lines 8 and 38 are also located near the main railway station in the city, Pescara railway station.

• The airport is connected to the center of Pescara and Chieti with the company TUA Chieti-Pescara line with which you can reach the university campus "G. D'Annunzio" in Chieti Scalo. The TUA stop is opposite the pedestrian exit of the airport park on Via Tiburtina Valeria.

Cars

• Coming from Rome: from Autostrada A24 Chieti-Pescara exit and merge facilities axis in the direction of Pescara . Exit Sambuceto-Airport and follow signs to the airport.
• Coming from Bologna-Ancona: Autostrada A14, exit at Chieti-Pescara Ovest, turn immediately right (twice) to get onto the road SS5 Tiburtina in the direction of Pescara, then take about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.
• Coming from Bari-Foggia: Autostrada A14 Chieti-Pescara Ovest exit, turn immediately right (twice) to get onto Strada statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria in the direction of Pescara, then walk about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.
• Coming from Naples: Autostrada A1 towards Rome, exit at Caianello, follow the signs to Isernia, arrived at Isernia go to Vasto until you see the 'Autostrada A14. From the Autostrada A14, exit at Chieti-Pescara Ovest, turn immediately right (twice) to join the Strada statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria in the direction of Pescara, then walk about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.

Trolley-line

In addition, the airport will soon be served by the new trolley-line currently under construction that will connect Pescara and its points of reference such as Pescara railway station and other neighboring towns such as Montesilvano and Francavilla al Mare.