Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO), commonly known as Fiumicino Airport, is Italy's busiest airport and Rome's principal international gateway. Located approximately 32 kilometers west of central Rome on the Tyrrhenian coast, FCO handles the majority of Rome's international traffic and serves as the hub for ITA Airways — the successor to Alitalia — connecting Italy with destinations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) sits on the coast southwest of Rome, serving as Italy's principal aviation hub and the main gateway for one of the world's most visited capital cities. The airport handles a large and diverse passenger mix: leisure tourists visiting Rome, business travelers serving Italy's corporate market, and connecting passengers using FCO as a transit point between Europe and destinations in the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East.
FCO operates through a multi-terminal structure. Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 serve different airline groupings, with the handling of Schengen and non-Schengen passengers separated throughout. Terminal 3 is the main international terminal and houses most long-haul departures.
The airport serves as the primary hub for ITA Airways (Italo-Trasporto Aereo), which was established in 2021 as the successor to the former national carrier Alitalia. ITA's network, though smaller than Alitalia's at its peak, is growing and offers connections across Europe and major intercontinental routes.
Fiumicino Airport opened in 1960 and was named after Leonardo da Vinci — Italy's most celebrated Renaissance genius — reflecting its ambitions as a world-class facility for a rapidly growing tourism economy. The airport expanded substantially through the decades as Italian aviation grew, and major terminal renovations and additions followed in the 1990s and 2000s.
A devastating fire damaged parts of Terminal 3 in 2015, prompting a substantial reconstruction and modernization program that significantly improved the airport's facilities. The transition from Alitalia to ITA Airways between 2020 and 2021 marked a significant operational change for the airport's dominant carrier.
FCO operates through four terminal buildings:
Terminals 1, 2, and 3 are connected by internal walkways. Terminal 5 requires a bus transfer and is a separate process.
ITA Airways operates its primary hub at FCO with Italian domestic services, European routes, and intercontinental long-haul services to North America, South America, and select Asian destinations. As a SkyTeam member, ITA provides connecting opportunities through partner hubs.
Other major airlines at FCO include Ryanair, easyJet, British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, Delta, American Airlines, Emirates, and a broad range of European and international carriers. Rome's status as a global tourism destination ensures exceptional airline diversity at FCO.
Fiumicino offers a good range of passenger facilities across all terminals, with the best amenities concentrated in Terminal 3. Duty-free and retail options include Italian fashion, food, and luxury brands. Dining ranges from traditional Italian cuisine to international quick-service restaurants. ITA's business lounge and several contract lounges serve premium passengers. Free Wi-Fi is available. Facilities include a travel clinic, currency exchange, and chapel.
FCO is connected to central Rome by several transport options:
FCO offers extensive parking across the terminal campus, with short-stay multi-storey parking adjacent to the terminals and long-stay lots at greater distances with shuttle transfers. Pre-booking through the ADR (Aeroporti di Roma) official website offers significant savings over walk-up rates. Electric vehicle charging is available.
Fiumicino's terminal layout can be confusing for first-time visitors. Confirm which terminal your airline uses before arriving — and note that Terminal 5 is a separate process requiring a bus transfer and additional time for security.
US-bound passengers typically depart from Terminal 5 and must complete enhanced security screening. Allow at least 3.5 hours before transatlantic departures.
The Leonardo Express is the most time-reliable transport to central Rome. Fixed-rate taxis are a good alternative but confirm the fixed rate applies before boarding. Note that some taxi drivers may attempt to charge higher rates — insist on the official fixed tariff for the city center.
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport is essential to Italy's tourism economy, facilitating the tens of millions of international visitors who visit Rome annually. Tourism is one of Italy's largest industries, and FCO is the primary conduit for international visitors to the eternal city and central Italy. The airport also supports business travel related to Rome's role as the seat of the Italian government and home to international organizations including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
ADR (Aeroporti di Roma) has ongoing investment plans for FCO including new terminal facilities, a business aviation center, and expanded cargo facilities. The long-term vision positions FCO as a major European hub competing for connecting traffic alongside Paris, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.
Sustainability commitments include carbon neutrality targets and investments in ground vehicle electrification and renewable energy for terminal operations.
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport is Italy's primary aviation hub and one of southern Europe's most important international gateways. Its role is defined by Rome's extraordinary global appeal as a tourism destination and by ITA Airways' developing intercontinental network from the Italian capital.
FCO's position at the center of the Mediterranean gives it natural geographic advantages for connecting European and North American traffic with destinations in Africa and the Middle East. This has historically been reinforced by Alitalia's role in African aviation — a legacy that ITA Airways is gradually reclaiming.
Within Rome's airport system, FCO handles all major international and long-haul traffic. Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) operates as a secondary facility primarily for low-cost carriers.
In practical terms, FCO can be understood as:
Airports within approximately 60 miles of Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial, regional access.
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The Leonardo Express non-stop train connects FCO with Roma Termini in approximately 32 minutes. It runs every 15–30 minutes. Fixed-rate taxis to the city center are also available from the arrivals level.
Terminal 3 handles most long-haul and intercontinental departures. Terminal 5 handles non-EU airlines with enhanced security requirements, including US-bound flights.
Allow at least 3.5 hours before transatlantic departures. US-bound flights use Terminal 5, which involves an additional bus transfer and enhanced security screening.
FCO (Fiumicino) is Rome's main international airport, serving full-service and international airlines. CIA (Ciampino) is a smaller secondary airport closer to the city, used primarily by Ryanair and other low-cost carriers.