Catania–Fontanarossa Airport

CTA originated in 1924 and was the region’s first airport. In WWII, it was taken over by the Allies and was used as a military airfield by the United States Army Air Forces afterwards. Specifically, it was used as a combat airfield by the Twelfth Air Force’s 340th Bombardment Group and by the 51st Troop Carrier Wing. It was returned to civilian use following the war. However, it was determined by the late 40s that the airport was running out of space, leading to the construction of a new, larger airport, which opened in 1950. The new airport served the region well until it, too, needed to be restructured in the late 1980s to be better suited for the continued growth that the region had been experiencing. On May 8th, 2007, a new 22-gate terminal opened, which was part of the effort to take CTA into the future, including adding an airside runway and a panoramic restaurant. 2013 saw the addition of Ryanair, which initially only employed one route but has since turned CTA into a focus city. Two new terminals were opened in 2018, with one dedicated to the exclusive use of easyJet.

The airport is located 2.6 miles southwest of Catania. 

•  CTA is not only a focus city for Ryanair but for Wizz Air as well. 
• The Catania/Fontanarossa – Rome/Fiumicino air route is the busiest in Italy and the fourth busiest in Europe. 
• There are two hotels near CTA: Romano Palace Luxury Hotel and The Airport Grand Hotel & Conference Centre. 
• Catania has several FBOs, including Signature Flight Support, Universal Aviation, VIP Aviation Catania, and Italy FBO. 
• CTA is named after opera composer Vincenzo Bellini, born in Catania.