Montichiari Airport Sees Passenger Boom Driven by International Flights
When, in July, Ryanair began flights from Montichiari to London at rock-bottom fares, experts predicted it: 170,000 passengers by the end of the year, 400,000 or even more in 2001. The first milestone has practically been reached.
In the past year, 164,804 passengers transited through the Brescia airport, almost eight times the number in 1999, when the figure reached 22,382. In reality, reading the numbers like this makes little sense: primarily because in 1999, the Brescia airport only started operations on March 16, and therefore was active for just over nine and a half months.
But also because, in fact, the passenger traffic that year was much higher: in addition to the mentioned 22,382 passengers, one must consider the 308,509 who used Montichiari Airport between March 16 and June 5, during which the Brescia airport replaced Catullo, closed for runway works.
Comparison between airports
The real comparison of the significance of D’Annunzio can only be inferred from the data in the table. And the figures are quite clear: most of the traffic at Brescia’s airport is represented by flights to and from abroad.
Indeed, the passenger volume on domestic routes increased from 17,862 to 40,051 (with 17,602 and 39,267 for scheduled flights respectively), but the real change in weight is seen in the transits to and from foreign countries. International flight passengers jumped from 4,520 to 124,208.
In more detail, scheduled flight passengers surged from 1,778 to 87,675, while charter flight passengers increased from 2,055 to 34,560. Essentially, what changed Montichiari’s profile was the boom in international travel, making Montichiari known not only among Brescians.
Data on flight activity in 2000
A precise comparison in this regard is obtained by analyzing the 2000 data divided by periods. In the first five months of the year, 1,473 flights were operated (including 831 scheduled and 126 charter flights), with a total of 33,781 passengers carried, of whom 17,807 were on domestic routes and 15,800 on international routes.
From January to September 2000, 3,272 flights were conducted (including 1,731 scheduled and 334 charter flights), transporting 109,544 passengers, of whom 29,689 traveled on domestic routes and 79,318 on international routes.
In essence, in four months, the number of passengers traveling abroad increased fivefold. “The forecast of 170,000 has been met,” states the provincial transport councilor, Vigilio Bettinsoli. “Now, we must prepare ourselves to reach the 300,000 passenger target for 2001.
The conditions are promising: recently, Cipe approved the inclusion of Montichiari airport among regional links. This decision was published in the Official Gazette of December 20th, and we are awaiting the final concession shortly.
Following that, the question of management company will be addressed. There is a dangerous impasse here: the establishment of the company, loudly announced last summer, is still not underway.
The obstacle is the challenge to the Catullo budget by Verona’s mayor, Michela Sironi: the hearing is scheduled for these days.
Finally, the change of airline operating flights from Montichiari to Rome (and return): from February, Brescian Air Dolomiti will step aside (reported here alongside). It will be succeeded by Gold Wind, a recently established company based in Fiumicino.