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Italian carrier Aeroitalia is expanding at Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport from May 2026, launching new flights that are set to strengthen tourism access to the Amalfi Coast and southern Italy.
Aeroitalia Backs Salerno With New Domestic Network
Aeroitalia will significantly increase its presence at Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport from May 2026, positioning a dedicated aircraft at the airport and opening new routes designed to connect the Amalfi Coast with key Italian cities. The move comes less than two years after the airport opened to commercial traffic, and signals growing airline confidence in Salerno as a viable alternative gateway to Naples for leisure and business travelers.
According to recent statements from Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, Aeroitalia plans to operate 19 weekly flights across four routes from Salerno, covering Milan, Genoa, Turin and Trieste. The airline’s own schedule highlights new services on the Salerno Trieste route from late May, complementing links to major northern economic hubs and expanding options for both domestic tourists and international visitors connecting via larger airports.
The expanded network is expected to improve year-round connectivity for the Campania region, which has historically relied on Naples for most air traffic. By anchoring an aircraft at Salerno, Aeroitalia is positioning itself as a core player in the airport’s development and in the broader strategy to decentralize traffic across southern Italy.
Government officials have framed the announcement as a milestone in the airport’s relaunch, noting that the additional capacity will support both tourism flows to the Amalfi Coast and mobility for residents of Salerno and the wider Cilento area.
A Young Airport Rapidly Scales Up
Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport opened to commercial flights in July 2024 after decades as a largely military and general aviation facility. Managed alongside Naples by airport operator Gesac, the site has been developed as a modern, energy-efficient gateway serving the Amalfi and Cilento coasts, with a new passenger terminal still under completion.
By summer 2025, the airport had already attracted an array of European and low-cost carriers and reached a network of 18 scheduled destinations. Routes to cities such as London, Paris, Vienna, Barcelona, Berlin and Brussels quickly expanded the airport’s international reach, while Italian links to Catania, Verona and other domestic points strengthened its role as a regional connector.
The decision by Aeroitalia to deepen its commitment from 2026 builds on this fast ramp-up. With legacy and low-cost airlines now operating side by side, Salerno is transitioning from a niche facility into a secondary hub for the Tyrrhenian coastline. Industry observers view the latest expansion as a sign that demand is keeping pace with capacity, particularly from travelers seeking more direct access to coastal resorts.
Local tourism boards have welcomed the trend, pointing out that better air connectivity helps disperse visitor flows beyond the most crowded hotspots and into lesser-known villages and inland cultural attractions in Campania.
Boost for Tourism Across the Amalfi and Cilento Coasts
For international visitors, Salerno’s growing route map means shorter transfer times to popular destinations such as Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, as well as to the quieter beaches and hill towns of the Cilento coast. Travelers flying with Aeroitalia from northern cities like Milan and Turin will be able to reach the coast with a domestic nonstop flight and a relatively brief onward transfer by road or ferry.
Tour operators and hoteliers expect the new services to support longer stays and more frequent short breaks, particularly from Italy’s northern regions where many residents already favor the Amalfi Coast for summer holidays. More convenient flight options can also help flatten seasonal peaks by making shoulder-season visits more attractive and affordable.
The expanded schedule is also seen as an opportunity to diversify the tourism offer. With improved air access, Salerno and nearby inland towns can promote cultural itineraries focused on archaeology, gastronomy and religious heritage, adding depth to a destination that is often known primarily for its dramatic coastline.
Local businesses ranging from boutique hotels and rental villas to restaurants and transport companies are preparing for higher demand. Many are investing in services tailored to air arrivals at Salerno, including direct transfers, luggage handling and flexible check-in and check-out options aligned with new flight times.
Local Policy Support and Competitive Measures
Italian authorities have closely tied Aeroitalia’s expansion to broader efforts to relaunch and stabilize Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport. Officials at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport have emphasized the airport’s strategic role for Campania and the wider south, underscoring that the new flights are a concrete result of coordination between the ministry, aviation regulator ENAC and the airport operator.
Policy discussions are also under way to adjust local surcharges in order to make Salerno more competitive with other Italian airports. Supporters argue that lighter fiscal pressure would help attract additional airlines and encourage existing operators such as Aeroitalia to expand capacity further, especially on routes that serve both tourism and business travel.
Airport stakeholders view Aeroitalia’s decision to base an aircraft in Salerno as a signal to other carriers that the market is maturing. With a growing mix of legacy, hybrid and low-cost operators already present, the airport is positioning itself as a flexible platform for airlines looking to serve southern Italy without the congestion often experienced at Naples.
Regional officials maintain that a stronger Salerno airport will also ease pressure on infrastructure serving the Amalfi Coast, by spreading arrivals and departures across more gateways and offering visitors alternative itineraries that begin or end away from traditional bottlenecks.
Implications for Travelers Planning Amalfi Coast Trips
For travelers planning trips in 2026 and beyond, Aeroitalia’s new services provide additional options when comparing flight paths into southern Italy. Alongside existing connections from major European hubs, the airline’s Salerno routes allow visitors to mix and match international and domestic segments, often with shorter ground transfers than itineraries routed through Naples.
Travel planners recommend that visitors heading directly to coastal resorts review arrival times into Salerno to coordinate with regional trains, private transfers or seasonal ferries that link the city to Amalfi, Positano and other coastal towns. As flight frequencies increase, there will be more flexibility to tailor arrivals and departures to individual itineraries, including weekend escapes and multi-stop journeys that combine the Amalfi Coast with Naples, Paestum or Cilento.
The airport’s rapid growth also underlines a broader shift in Italian tourism, as regional airports play a larger role in distributing visitor flows more evenly across the country. With Aeroitalia now committing to Salerno as a base, the Amalfi Coast is poised to see not only more visitors, but also a wider range of routes and travel styles, from quick domestic getaways to long-haul trips connecting via Italy’s northern and central hubs.
As airlines finalize schedules for summer 2026, Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport is set to feature more prominently in booking engines and travel agency proposals, consolidating its emergence as a new front door to one of Italy’s most iconic coastlines.