Ciampino bears the name of G.B. Pastine and a century of history: it is Rome’s first airport, opened in 1916, and today the only terminal dedicated to business aviation in the Roman airport system.
Its geographical position is a concrete advantage. 15 km from the Colosseum, 12 km from Palazzo Chigi, and less than five minutes from the A90 motorway (Grande Raccordo Anulare), diplomatic delegations, business teams, and prestigious travelers consistently prefer it over Fiumicino for daytime flights.
But this popularity has an operational downside. A ministerial decree (n°345/18) caps general aviation at 61 movements per day. During peak season, Jubilees, major Vatican ceremonies, or weeks of state visits, this quota is reached in a few hours. PPR (Prior Permission Required) must therefore be requested as early as possible by the handler, as a PPR refusal forces a switch to Fiumicino with very different logistics and reception.
The 11 PM to 6 AM curfew is a real constraint for late-arriving intercontinental flights. A direct transatlantic flight can land during this night slot. In this case, Fiumicino and its 3,902-meter runway take over; the aircraft can reposition to Ciampino the next morning if necessary.
For diplomatic flights related to the Vatican, the situation is unique: state flights and certain official delegations benefit from curfew exemptions and specific reception on the military side of the airport. This area is particularly active during beatifications, consistories, or large public audiences attended by foreign heads of state.
