Rome Fiumicino: A Hub For Global Connectivity And Growth

Rome FCO continues to strengthen its position as one of Europe’s leading hubs, with a record in 2024 of 49.2 million passengers, with an increase of nearly 9 million compared to the previous year, making it the fastest-growing airport in Europe and the 7th busiest on the continent (source: ACI). Cargo operations recorded strong growth, positioning FCO as Italy’s top-growing airport for freight and the reference cargo hub for Central and Southern Italy.

FCO is on track to deliver improved performance in 2025, driven by strong demand for long-haul flights and a network expansion. Recent developments include new transatlantic routes to Denver and Minneapolis, while Miami and Los Angeles have been further strengthened with additional services. The long-haul connectivity has also been boosted by the launch of new flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Muscat, Accra, Dakar and many other destinations, alongside expanded European connectivity. Strategic partnerships, including Lufthansa’s stake in ITA Airways, further reinforce FCO’s role as a gateway between Europe, South America and Africa.

Looking ahead to 2026, the airport has already unveiled new services across both short/medium-haul and long-haul markets. Among these, Seattle–Rome flights by Alaska Airlines and Delta represent an important milestone, further expanding connectivity and confirming the strong interest of international carriers in Rome’s market. Qantas has just announced expansion of its Rome-Perth service: the carrier will almost double capacity for 2026 by extending operating period and increasing frequencies, further reinforcing the direct bridge between Italy and Australia.

Ongoing infrastructure upgrades, terminal expansions and advanced digital solutions ensure efficiency and an exceptional passenger experience. Recognized with a 5-Star Skytrax rating and the Best Airport Award in Europe for seven times in eight years, FCO combines world-class service with sustainable, year-round growth, ready to meet the evolving demands of global air travel.

Key Route Opportunities

Rome FCO is a leading hub in Central-Southern Europe for intercontinental connectivity. In North America, it handles up to 40 daily departures, serving 20 airports. At the same time, the current and prospective potential of its large catchment area highlights a range of attractive opportunities for developing new routes across the globe.

Among the most promising unserved markets, several stand out across different world regions, based on the latest available O&D data. Asia confirms its dynamism with high volumes to Manila (231K), Colombo (171K), Osaka (148K), Kuala Lumpur (120K) and Mumbai (110K), reflecting both leisure and business potential. In North America, Houston (140K) and Vancouver (121K) show strong traffic flows and solid demand. In Latin America, Lima (189K) and Santiago de Chile (102K) represent strategic opportunities to expand Rome’s footprint in South America. Africa also shows growing prospects, with Johannesburg (90K) and Cape Town (64K) offering additional opportunities to reinforce connectivity with Sub-Saharan markets.

The launch of nonstop services to these destinations would capture existing demand and stimulate new traffic. With modern infrastructure, a proven growth trajectory and favorable global dynamics, Fiumicino is ideally positioned to sustain further long-haul expansion and consolidate its role as Southern Europe’s leading intercontinental gateway.

Rome FCO at A Glance

• 49.2 Mpax in 2024, the most growing airport in Europe (+21% vs 2023; +13% vs 2019)
• 7th largest airport in Europe
• Ranked among the top 10 best-connected airports in the world:
  • 230+ destinations
  • 80 countries
  • 5 continents
• 100 airlines
• The largest cargo airport in central/southern Italy

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