Naples International Airport
The Naples International Airport is located in the suburb of San Pietro a Patierno. It is the largest airport in southern Italy, with around 140 national and international flights arriving or departing daily.
The district of Capodichino – in the area known as "Campo di Marte" – hosted in 1910 the first flight exhibitions in Naples. During the First World War, "Campo di Marte" became a military airport in order to defend the town against Austro-Hungarian and German air attacks. Dedicated to Ugo Niutta (it) (an Italian aviator), Capodichino Airport was a military air base during the Fascist Era and Second World War.[citation needed]
During World War II the airport was used by the United States Army Air Forces extensively during the Italian Campaign. It was used by the Twelfth Air Force as a combat airfield, which stationed the following units at the airport: 79th Fighter Group (January – May 1944, P-40 Warhawk/P-47 Thunderbolt); 47th Bombardment Group (March – April 1944, A-20 Havoc); 33d Fighter Group (April – May 1944, P-40 Warhawk). When the combat units moved out, Air Transport Command used the airport as a major transshipment hub for cargo, transiting aircraft and personnel for the remainder of the war.
Commercial traffic started in 1950. In 1980 GE.S.A.C. ("Gestione Servizi Aeroporto Capodichino") was established to administer the airport; in 1982 it became "Gestione Servizi Aeroporti Campani") and participated in by the City Council, the province of Naples and Alitalia. In 1995 GE.S.A.C. drew up – with BAA assistance – a new master plan, which marked the beginning of a twenty-year development plan. After two years (1997) GE.S.A.C. was the first airport management company in Italy to be privatised: BAA acquires 70% of the share package from the City Council and Province of Naples. In 1998 the "Galleria Napoli" opened, a shopping arcade open 365 days a year inside Terminal 1. In 2002 H.R.H. Prince Charles inaugurated the new departure lounge.
The airport has a single runway in bituminous conglomerate and concrete, with one taxiway. There is one apron with 29 stands, 9 of which self-maneuvering and the remaining Push Back. The airport is class 4D ICAO and has the classification of military airport opened to commercial air traffic 24 hours/day.
The airport management company is fully responsible for managing the airport and coordinating and control activities of all the private operators present in the airport. Capodichino hosts some aeronautical industrial activities, like Atitech, Alenia Aeronautica, Aeronavali, Tecnam Costruzioni Aeronautiche.
