Rome–Fiumicino International Airport "Leonardo da Vinci" (Italian: Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino "Leonardo da Vinci") (IATA: FCO, ICAO: LIRF), is an international airport in Rome and the major airport in Italy. It is one of the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic with almost 43 million passengers served in 2018.
The airport serves as the main hub for Alitalia, the largest Italian airline and Vueling, a Spanish low-cost carrier owned by International Airlines Group. Based on total passenger numbers, it is the eighth-busiest airport in Europe and was the world's 47th-busiest airport in 2017. It covers an area of 16 km2 and is named after polymath Leonardo da Vinci who, in 1480, designed a flying machine with wings and the first proto helicopter.
The airport was officially opened on 15 January 1961, with two runways, replacing the smaller Rome Ciampino Airport, which remains in service for some low-cost airlines as well as domestic and charter operations. Despite being officially opened in 1961, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport had actually been in use since 20 August 1960. This was to help relieve air traffic that was congesting Rome Ciampino Airport during the 1960 Summer Olympics.
During the 1960s, home-carrier Alitalia invested heavily in the new airport, building hangars and maintenance centres; in the same period a third runway was added (16L/34R).
FLICKR - GLOBAL PLANESPOTTING - GALLERY
Cockpit View # Landing :
Roma - Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport ( FCO / LIRF ) Italy
Air France - Airbus A319