Falcone Borsellino Airport (IATA: PMO, ICAO: LICJ) (Italian: Aeroporto Falcone Borsellino) or simply Palermo Airport, formerly Punta Raisi Airport, is an international airport located at Cinisi, 19 NM (35 km; 22 mi) west-northwest[1]ofPalermo, the capital city of the Italian island of Sicily. It is the second biggest airport in Sicily in terms of passengers after Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, with 7,118,087 passengers handled in 2022.
The airport was given the name Falcone Borsellino in memory of the two leading anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino who were murdered by the Sicilian Mafia in 1992. A 1.90-metre-diameter (6.2 ft) plaque featuring their portraits can be found to the right of one of the main outside entrances to the departure hall, set into a mosaic of Sicily. Created by the Sicilian sculptor Tommaso Geraci, it bears the inscription Giovanni Falcone–Paolo Borsellino–Gli Altri–L'orgoglio della Nuova Sicilia (Giovanni Falcone–Paolo Borsellino–The Others–The Pride of the New Sicily).
In 1994, GESAP was charged with the partial management of the airport through a convention which granted the company a 20-year mandate to run land-side activities (the airport buildings and surrounding areas). In April 1999, GESAP obtained an anticipated mandate to manage the airport's air side activities, and, more specifically, the flight infrastructure (runways, links, taxiways and aprons).
In June 2005, Eurofly launched seasonal flights from Palermo to New York City using Airbus A330s.[3][4][5] The company merged with Meridiana in 2010 to create Meridiana Fly, which continued the service.[6] As a result of Meridiana Fly's decision to rebrand as Air Italy, the route ended in October 2017.[7][8] Neos will commence a summer-seasonal route from June 2024 with Boeing 787 Dreamliners, reconnecting Palermo to New York.[9]
GESAP S.p.a. is the airport management company of the airport. It has a fully paid-up share capital of €15,912,332 divided between the Regional Province of Palermo, the ComuneofPalermo, the Chamber of Commerce, the ComuneofCinisi and other minor partners.
On 5 May 1972, Alitalia Flight 112 flew into Mt. Longa on approach to Palermo Airport. All 115 aboard were killed.
On 23 December 1978, Alitalia Flight 4128 crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while on approach to Palermo Airport.
On 6 August 2005, Tuninter Flight 1153, an ATR 72–500, ran out of fuel while en route and ditched about 29 kilometres (18 mi) from the city of Palermo. 16 of the 39 people on board died.
On 24 September 2010, Wind Jet Flight 243, operated by Airbus A319-132 EI-EDM,[24] landed short of the runway after encountering a thunderstorm and windshear on approach. The aircraft was substantially damaged when it impacted the localiser. Both main undercarriage sets collapsed and the aircraft was evacuated by the emergency slides.[25] Around 20 passengers were injured in the evacuation.[24]
There are several private bus companies, which stop at the bus station outside the terminal building and connect the airport with nearby Palermo city.[26] There are further connections to/from Palermo, Catania, Messina and rest of Sicily.
Media related to Palermo Punta Raisi Airport at Wikimedia Commons
Aviation
