Italy's airports facing infrastructure ‘emergency’

Assaeroporti general secretary Stefano Baronci stated Italian airports face an "emergency in terms of infrastructure", due to growth being constrained by national airport charges (Airport World, 11-May-2011). Mr Baronci called for Italy's entire airport system to be deregulated. Excessive airport regulation has meant that airport charges "have been practically frozen" for the past 11 years, making it difficult for Italian airports to compete, attract new airlines and increase revenues, he said. Italian airports handled 140 million passengers in 2010, which is expect to increase to 200 million by 2020, which Mr Baronci stated highlights the need to modernise and expand airport infrastructure.