Sommacampagna
A strategic airport for Northern Italy
The Verona-Villafranca airport, dedicated to Gaio Valerio Catullo, is located on the border between Villafranca di Verona and Sommacampagna and is one of the main airports in Northern Italy. With around four million inhabitants accounting for 12% of the Gross Domestic Product, the airport is located in an area that includes the provinces of Brescia, Mantua, Rovigo, Vicenza, Trento, Bolzano, and Verona. It is about 12 km away from the historic city center of Verona and was previously classified as a military airport. However, since September 11th, 2008, the civilian airport is also open to military traffic.
History
Early Years
During World War I, the Villafranca Air Base was a military airport. In May 1918, several Squadriglie arrived, including the 134th Squadron, the 61st Squadron, the 1st SVA Section, and the 75th Fighter Squadron. In 1951, the 5th Wing arrived at the airport, followed by the 3rd Wing in 1954.
Expansion in the 1990s and 2000s
In the 1990s, the Verona-Villafranca airport began to expand. In 1990, the passenger terminal was expanded to cope with the constant increase in traffic. In addition, the aircraft apron and car parks were enlarged. Access to the airport was improved by connecting it to the new Verona ring road during the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
The management company and ownership of the airport
The airport is managed by Aeroporto Valerio Catullo S.p.A., which also manages the Brescia-Montichiari airport. The ownership of the Verona-Villafranca airport is divided among the administrations of the Veneto region, the municipality of Villafranca di Verona, the municipality of Sommacampagna, the province of Rovigo, the Lombardy region, the province of Brescia, the Autonomous Province of Trento (the second largest shareholder), and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano.
The services offered by the airport
The Verona-Villafranca airport offers numerous travel options and services for passengers. There are daily flights to several Italian and international cities. In addition, the airport offers car parking, taxi service, car rental, and bus connections to the city.
Conclusions
The Verona-Villafranca airport is an important starting point for travelers heading to Northern Italy. Thanks to its strategic location and numerous services offered, it is able to meet the needs of every type of passenger. The airport continues to expand and improve, offering ever-greater travel opportunities and a better experience to all its users.
