Florence Airport

{{Short description|Airport in Peretola, Italy}} {{about|the airport in Italy|other airports}} {{Infobox airport | name = Florence Airport, Peretola | nativename = ''Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola'' | nativename-a = | nativename-r = | image = TYA.MI BIG.svg | image-width = 200 | image2 = Florence - Peretola (Amerigo Vespucci) (FLR - LIRQ) AN0591245.jpg | image2-width = 250 | IATA = FLR | ICAO = LIRQ | pushpin_map = Tuscany#Italy | pushpin_label = FLR | type = Public | owner-oper = Toscana Aeroporti | opened = {{start date and age|1931|06|04|df=y|p=n|br=n}}<ref name="structurae"/> | city-served = Florence, Italy | location = Peretola | focus_city = {{ubl|Volotea|Vueling}} | elevation-m = 43 | coordinates = {{Coord|43|48|36|N|11|12|14|E|type:airport}} | website = {{URL|https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/}} | metric-elev = | metric-rwy = | r1-number = 05/23 | r1-length-f = 5,118 | r1-length-m = 1,560 <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.toscana-aeroporti.com/en/home/company/technical-data.html |title=Technical data - Toscana Aeroporti S.p.A. }}</ref> | r1-surface = Asphalt | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 3,516,925 | stat2-header = {{nowrap|Passenger change 23-24}} | stat2-data = {{increase}} +14.3% | stat4-header = Movements | stat4-data = 40,407 | stat5-header = {{nowrap|Movements change 23-24}} | stat5-data = {{increase}} +6.2% | stat7-header = Cargo (tons) | stat7-data = 68.9 | stat8-header = {{nowrap|Cargo change 23-24}} | stat8-data = {{decrease}} -49.8% | stat-year = 2024 | footnotes = Statistics from Assaeroporti <ref>{{cite web |url=https://assaeroporti.com/archivio/ |title=Archivio |date=26 November 2024 }}</ref> }}

'''Florence Airport, Peretola''' {{airport codes|FLR|LIRQ}}, in Italian ''Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola'', formally '''Amerigo Vespucci Airport''', is the international airport of Florence, the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the second-busiest Tuscan airport in terms of passengers after Pisa International Airport.

== History == {{more sources needed section|date=March 2021}} ===Early years=== The first air field in Florence was created in the Campo di Marte area in 1910, when military authorities allowed a field to be used for "experiments in air navigation". Campo di Marte thus became Florence's first airport, and remained so throughout the 1920s. However, the field was soon surrounded by houses and was inadequate for the new aircraft that were then replacing the first canvas-covered craft. In 1928, a location on the plain between Florence and Sesto Fiorentino was chosen. Peretola Airport opened there on 4 June 1931.<ref name="structurae">{{cite web |title=Florence "Amerigo Vespucci" International Airport |url=https://structurae.net/en/structures/florence-amerigo-vespucci-international-airport |publisher=Structurae |access-date=8 July 2022}}</ref>

At first, Peretola was a large field where airplanes took off and landed with no formal direction, but eventually, the Ministry of Aeronautics decided to enlarge and upgrade it. The airport was extended toward Castello, and in 1938–39, an asphalt runway {{Convert|60|m|ft}} wide and {{Convert|1000|m|ft}} long, facing northeast, was built.

During World War II, Peretola was used both by the Royal Italian Air Force and the Luftwaffe and from 1944 by Allied air forces. Then later in the 1940s it welcomed its first passenger flights, operated by Aerea Teseo with Douglas DC-3 aircraft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=deZeng IV |first1=Henry L. |title=Luftwaffe Airfields 1935-45 Italy, Sicily and Sardinia |url=http://ww2.dk/Airfields%20-%20Italy%20Sicily%20and%20Sardinia.pdf |publisher=The Luftwaffe, 1933-45 |access-date=8 July 2022 |date=September 2015}}</ref> In 1948, Aerea Teseo went out of business. In the late '50s and early '60s, Alitalia, also using the DC-3, offered two routes: Rome–Florence–Venice and Rome–Florence–Milan. ATI then offered several domestic flights with the Fokker F27.

In the early 1980s, plans were made to upgrade the airport's facilities. In 1984, Saf (now AdF, the company that manages the airport) was founded, and restructuring work was completed: lengthening (to {{Convert|1400|m|ft|abbr=on}}) and lighting the runway, installing a VOR/DME navigation system, and rebuilding the airport terminal. In September 1986, regular flights resumed. Since then, the number of airplanes and passengers has steadily increased.

===Development since the 1990s=== {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}} In 1990, the airport was renamed after Florence native Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant and cartographer.

In 1992, the building now dedicated to arrivals, constructed by AdF, was inaugurated. Two years later, a departures building opened, and the City of Florence opened a car park at the entrance to the airport. In 1996, the runway was extended by {{Convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on}}, and AdF funded further enlargement of the departure area. The new area has 15 check-in desks and is {{Convert|1200|m2|ft2}} in area, {{Convert|770|m2|ft2|abbr=on}} of which are for public use.

Since 9 April 1998, AdF has had a global concession to managing the airport's infrastructure, and it has assumed responsibility for maintenance and development. In late 1999, a renovation and expansion of the terminals, aircraft parking areas, and other facilities began.

In July 2000, AdF made its debut on the stock market, and in 2001, the airport was among the first in Europe to obtain UNI EN ISO 9001/2000 certification for the quality of its services.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

On 5 December 2012, Vueling announced the opening of a base of operations in Florence, with flights to several destinations in Europe.

== Facilities == {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2025}}thumb|Departure area at Florence Airport thumb|Apron view thumb|Control tower Florence Airport has a single runway, and the main taxiway is situated at the end of Runway 5, with an overshoot/holding area at the end of Runway 23. As is common at smaller airports, after landing, planes turn around at the end of the runway, then taxi back down to reach the parking area and terminal. Because of the close proximity of Monte Morello, planes normally take off from Runway 23, thus forcing aircraft to taxi down the runway again to depart.{{cn|date=June 2023}}

The Polizia di Stato stations police helicopters at the airport.

The terminal buildings are quite small. The larger brown building contains the check in, security, duty free and arrivals, as well at gate number 1. There is a second older building connected by an airbridge, which contains gates 2–11, as well as a food court. The current airport does not have any jetbridges so bus boarding is used from all gates, however, a new state of the art terminal is expected in the next decade, containing 7 new jetbridges. The short runway is due to be decommissioned and reduced to a taxiway because a new runway is set to be built perpendicular to the current one (parallel to the A11 highway). The new runway will be longer than the current one, which only can accept aircraft up to the size of the A320NEO.

== Airlines and destinations == <!--DO NOT ADD OR REMOVE ROUTES WITHOUT GIVING A VALID INDEPENDENT SOURCE. EXACT DATES ARE MANDATORY FOR NEW ROUTES TO BE ADDED HERE. ALSO ADD INLINE CITATIONS IF POSSIBLE.--> The following airlines offers scheduled services from and to Florence Airport:<ref>{{cite web |title=Flight Timetable |url=https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/images/pdf/Orario_Generale/OrarioGenerale.pdf |publisher=Toscana Aeroporti |access-date=8 July 2022 |date=27 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/it/i-passeggeri/partenze/orario-generale.html |title=Partenze da Firenze|access-date=2019-07-31 |archive-date=2019-07-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731202818/https://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/it/i-passeggeri/partenze/orario-generale.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{Airport-dest-list <!-- --> | Aegean Airlines | Athens<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221230-v7a3codeshare|title=Volotea / Aegean Airlines Expands Codeshare Network in NS23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=30 December 2022|access-date=2 January 2025|language=en-ca}}</ref> <!-- --> | AeroItalia | '''Seasonal:''' Cagliari<ref>https://italiavola.com/2026/01/24/aeroitalia-apre-quattro-nuove-rotte-da-cagliari/</ref><br> <!-- --> | Air Corsica | Nice<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.investincotedazur.com/en/air-corsica-regular-flights-from-nice-to-florence-starting-june-27-2025/|title=Air Corsica: Regular Flights from Nice to Florence|website=invest in cote d'azur|date=18 December 2024 }}</ref> <!-- --> | Air Dolomiti | Frankfurt,<ref name="aeroroutes_240527-lhnw24eu">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240527-lhnw24eu|title=Lufthansa NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 26MAY24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=27 May 2024|access-date=30 December 2024|language=en-ca}}</ref> Munich<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-15 |title=Frankfurt und München: Auch Air Dolomiti muss den Flugplan ausdünnen |url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/ticker/frankfurt-und-muenchen-auch-air-dolomiti-muss-den-flugplan-ausduennen/nxq5myr |access-date=2026-02-04 |website=aeroTELEGRAPH |language=de-ch}}</ref> <!-- --> | Air France | Paris–Charles de Gaulle<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221026-afnw22cdg|title=Air France NW22 Paris CDG Europe Frequency Variations – 23OCT22|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | Air Serbia | Belgrade<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.exyuaviation.com/2024/12/air-serbia-to-take-fourth-wide-body.html|title=Air Serbia to launch Florence flights|date=10 December 2024 }}</ref> <!-- --> | Austrian Airlines | Vienna<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240527-osnw24eu|title=Austrian NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 26MAY24|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | British Airways | London–City,<ref>{{cite web | title=When will BA take London City airport more seriously? | website=Independent.co.uk | date=20 May 2025 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/british-ariways-london-city-aiport-b2753767.html }}</ref> London–Heathrow,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221230-bans23flr|title=British Airways Adds London Heathrow – Florence Service From April 2023|website=Aeroroutes|access-date=31 October 2024}}</ref> London–Stansted<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231212-bacjns24stn|publisher=AeroRoutes|title=BA CityFlyer NS24 London Stansted Operations|access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref> <!-- --> | Brussels Airlines | '''Seasonal:''' Brussels<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220627-lhgroup3q22eu|title=Lufthansa Group Carriers July/August 2022 Intra-Europe Adjustment - 26JUN22|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | Eurowings | '''Seasonal:''' Düsseldorf<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231130-ewns24 | title=Eurowings NS24 Network Additions – 30NOV23 }}</ref> <!-- --> | Finnair | '''Seasonal:''' Helsinki<ref>{{cite web |title=Finnair NS26 Europe Network Expansion |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/250904-ayns26eu |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=4 September 2025}}</ref> <!-- --> | Iberia | Madrid<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231109-ibnw24fltnbr|title=Iberia NW24 Systemwide Flight Number Changes|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | ITA Airways | Rome–Fiumicino<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241030-aznw24eu|title=ITA Airways NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=30 October 2024|access-date=29 December 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> <!-- --> | KLM | Amsterdam<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240122-klns24eu|title=KLM NS24 European Service Changes – 21JAN24|website=Aeroroutes}}</ref> <!-- --> | Luxair | '''Seasonal:''' Luxembourg<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Luxembourg, Luxembourg|date=August 2023|volume=25|issue=2|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=616–617}}</ref> <!-- --> | {{nowrap|Scandinavian Airlines}} | '''Seasonal:''' Copenhagen,<ref name="aeroroutes_240122-skns24eu">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240122-skns24eu|title=SAS NS24 European Network Changes – 21JAN24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=22 January 2024|access-date=28 November 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> Stockholm–Arlanda,<ref name="aeroroutes_240122-skns24eu"/> Oslo <ref>[https://www.associazione-aeroporto-firenze.it/wp/aeroporto-firenze/firenze-oslo-di-scandinavian-airlines/ Firenze-Oslo di Scandinavian Airlines]</ref> <!-- --> | Small Fly Airlines | Elba<ref>{{cite web |url=https://italiavola.com/2025/04/05/small-fly-airlines-partira-il-15-aprile-con-i-voli-da-e-per-lelba/ |title=Small Fly Airlines partirà il 15 aprile con i voli da e per l'Elba |date=5 April 2025 |website=Italiavola.com |language=Italian |trans-title=S.F.A. to starts on 15th April with services to Elba Island}}</ref> <!-- --> | {{nowrap|Swiss International Air Lines}} | Zürich<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241030-lxnw24eu|title=SWISS NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes|access-date=30 October 2024}}</ref> <!-- --> | TAP Air Portugal | Lisbon<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231017-adtpcodeshare|title=Azul Expands TAP Air Portugal Codeshare in NW23|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=17 October 2023|access-date=27 December 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> <!-- --> | Volotea | Bordeaux,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Bordeaux, France BOD|date=May 2025|volume=26|issue=11|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=157–159}}</ref> Cagliari,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Cagliari, Italy CAG|date=May 2025|volume=26|issue=11|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=196–197}}</ref> Catania,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376">{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Florence, Italy FLR|date=May 2025|volume=26|issue=11|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=376}}</ref> Nantes,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376"/> Palermo,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376"/> Prague,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.praguemorning.cz/prague-to-florence-volotea-flight/ | title=Volotea to Launch New Direct Flight from Prague to Florence | date=7 October 2023 | access-date=7 October 2023 | archive-date=23 June 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240623150205/https://praguemorning.cz/prague-to-florence-volotea-flight/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> San Sebastián (begins 21 September 2026)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://italiavola.com/2026/05/10/volotea-lancia-nuova-rotta-da-firenze-a-san-sebastian/ |title=Volotea Lancia Nuova Rotta da Firenze a San Sebastian|date=10 May 2026 |website=Italiavola.com |language=Italian}}</ref> <br> '''Seasonal:''' Alghero<ref>{{cite web |title=Volotea NS25 Network Additions – 24NOV24 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241128-v7ns25 |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref>, Asturias (begins 21 September 2026),<ref>[https://www.associazione-aeroporto-firenze.it/wp/aeroporto-firenze/firenze-oviedo-di-volotea/ Firenze-Oviedo di Volotea]</ref> Berlin (begins 22 September 2026),<ref name="g609">{{cite web | title=Volotea verbindet Berlin und Straßburg mit Florenz | website=aeroTELEGRAPH | date=2025-11-06 | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/ticker/volotea-verbindet-berlin-und-strassburg-mit-florenz/mwjse68 | language=de | access-date=2025-12-14}}</ref> Bilbao,<ref>{{Cite journal|author=<!-- not stated -->|journal=OAG Flight Guide Worldwide|title=Bilbao, Spain BIO|date=May 2025|volume=26|issue=11|publisher=OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited|publication-place=Luton, United Kingdom|issn=1466-8718|language=en|pages=141–142}}</ref> Hamburg,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.elnacional.cat/oneconomia/ca/empreses/volotea-alia-eurowings-llanca-rutes-amb-alemanya_971238_102.html | title=Volotea s'alia amb Eurowings i llança vuit noves rutes amb Alemanya | date=15 February 2023 }}</ref> Lyon,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376"/> Olbia,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376"/> Seville (begins 21 September 2026),<ref name="g609"/> Strasbourg (begins 23 September 2026),<ref name="g609"/> Toulouse,<ref name="OAG_World_May2025_376_376"/> Valencia (begins 22 September 2026)<ref name="g609"/> <!-- --> | Vueling | Barcelona,<ref name="aeroroutes_241031-vynw24es">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241031-vynw24es|title=Vueling NW24 Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=31 October 2024|access-date=3 January 2025|language=en-ca}}</ref> Brussels,<ref>{{cite web |title=Vueling Adds Florence – Brussels Service in NS25 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241217-vyns25flrbru |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=17 December 2024}}</ref> Catania, London–Gatwick,<ref name="aeroroutes_241031-vynw24es"/> Madrid, Paris–Orly<ref name="aeroroutes_241031-vynw24es"/> <br>'''Seasonal:''' Menorca (begins 17 June 2026)<ref>{{cite web|title=FLIGHTS FROM FLR TO MAH|url=https://flyteam.jp/en/airline_route/flr_mah/flight_schedule/2026/06|website=flyteam.jp|access-date=February 28, 2026}}</ref> | Widerøe | '''Seasonal:''' Bergen<ref name="aeroroutes_eckxxw8g6ha0nj26eivliia82w2f8l">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/eckxxw8g6ha0nj26eivliia82w2f8l|title=Wideroe Expands Florence Service in NS23|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=2 November 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> <!-- --> }}

==Statistics== {{Airport-Statistics|iata=FLR}}

==Ground transportation== The second line of the Florence light-rail network has a terminal at the airport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mobilita.comune.fi.it/tramvia/sistema_tramviario/linea2.html|title=Linea 2|website=mobilita.comune.fi.it|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720224116/http://mobilita.comune.fi.it/tramvia/sistema_tramviario/linea2.html|archive-date=2016-07-20}}</ref> The airport is also connected with the city of Florence by a bus line that runs to and from the central railway station every half-hour, operated by Autolinee Toscane. Taxis are available to central Florence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/the-passengers/transport.html|title=To & From Airport - Airport of Florence|website=www.aeroporto.firenze.it|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713141139/http://www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en/the-passengers/transport.html|archive-date=2016-07-13}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents== * {{Timeline event|date={{Start date|1997|07|30|df=y}} |event=Air Littoral Flight 701, an ATR 42 regional aircraft arriving from Nice, France, overran the runway on landing, crashed through the perimeter fence and into a ditch next to the nearby A11 motorway. The captain died of his injuries four days later; fourteen other people on board were injured.}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commons category inline}} * {{Official website}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20131204232721/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=FLR Accident history for FLR] at Aviation Safety Network

{{Airports in Italy}} {{USAAF 12th Air Force World War II}} {{Portal bar|Italy|Aviation}} {{authority control}}

Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in Italy Category:Airports established in 1910 Category:Airports in Tuscany Category:Transport in Florence Category:Military airbases established in 1939 Category:Military airbases closed in 1945