Fiumicino-Rome Airport (FCO) Guide: Charter Bus Stops and Navigational Tips

Maxim Saenko
Published: 01/07/2024
Edited by   Eugene Bulan
Edited: 02/08/2024
Fiumicino-Rome Airport (FCO) Guide: Charter Bus Stops and Navigational Tips

Originally built as a reliever airport, Fiumicino eventually outgrown its partner, the Ciampino airport. Now, they work together to handle 32,8 million passengers per year. The FCO unit is currently undergoing a major expansion plan which aims to make it more sustainable. Not to mention that some of those changes will make it handle up to 100 million people in a year.

Whenever you need to visit the Eternal City, make sure to book our bus hire Rome. Our driver is going to wait for you at the airport and help you with your luggage. While you wait for that big day, here is some important information about the local airport.

FCO airport at a glance

  • IATA code: FCO
  • ICAO code: LIRF
  • WMO code: 16242
  • Location: Fiumicino
  • Time zone: GMT+2

How to move in Fiumicino-Rome airport?

Since the FCO airport is currently undergoing renovations, only Terminal 3 is operational at the moment. It comprises gates E1 to E52 and is the base for ITA Airways as well as several other airlines. It has a new central hall and has added Terminal 5 for non-Schengen flights.

This airport inaugurated SkyBridge in 1999 with Satellite C. It is an automated people mover that connects the third floor of Terminal 3 with the second floor between gates E31 and E44. It is the only direct connection between those two regions and passes a security checkpoint.

Besides the ongoing expansion, there are many plans to further improve the FCO airport. One of them is the cogeneration system, where the airport would be able to generate the very energy it consumes. It is also expected to receive four new terminals and two runways.

Navigating From Terminals to Charter Bus Stops at FCO airport

fco airport terminal map
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It is very easy to meet your BCS driver once you leave the FCO airport. Take a look:

  • Terminals 1 and 3: Both their exits lead to the Ostia-Fiumicino internal street. All you have to do is walk down that street to reach the bus parking lot – it will take 8 minutes at most.
  • Terminal 2: This terminal is connected to both the other ones. You will need to reach one of them first, then follow the steps above in order to reach the bus parking lot.

FCO airport statistics

  • 29,3 million passengers in 2022 in 113,972 aircraft movements
  • 101,325 tons of freight cargo handled in 2022
  • The Rome airport currently has three runways of 3.9 km each
  • Together with the Ciampino airport, it forms Rome’s airport system
  • It is a hub for ITA, the flag carrier airline founded after Alitalia’s demise

FCO airport trivia

  • This airport was opened in 1961 to supersede Ciampino, though both work together now. At that time, remains of Caligula’s Great Ship were found at the building site.
  • Even before the current expansion plan, the FCO airport has undergone many other improvements. One of them is a unified baggage handling system, started in 2010.
  • While the airport’s official opening date was January 15th 1961, it was first used in August 20th 1960. It would relieve traffic from Ciampino due to the Summer Olympics.

About the author

Maxim Saenko

Maxim Saenko, our COO, steers the ship with a serene but deeply rooted passion for stories and travel. His role extends beyond operations and decision-making, and mercifully into the world of our BCS blog.

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