Abruzzo Airport

Abruzzo Airport
IATA: PSR – ICAO: LIBP PSR Location of airport in Italy
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	S.A.G.A. S.p.A.
Serves	Pescara
Elevation AMSL	48 ft / 15 m
Coordinates
Website	abruzzo-airport.it
Runways
Direction Length Surface m ft 04/22 2,419 7,936 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 613.427 Passenger change 14–15 10,2% Aircraft movements 10.469 Movements change 14–15 55,4%
Source: Italian AIP at EUROCONTROL Statistics from Assaeroporti

Abruzzo Airport (IATA: PSR, ICAO: LIBP) is an airport located near Pescara, Italy. It is located approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) from the centre of Pescara, about 180 km (112 miles) from Rome, a 2-hour drive by car on a motorway across the Appennine mountains. It is the only international airport in the Abruzzo region. Open to civilian traffic since 1996, it has seen a steady increase in the number of transit passengers over the years, mainly due to an growth in low-cost airlines and flights.

History

Early years

In 1973 the English historian Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, then living in Abruzzo, organised a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Genoa to Pescara as a test flight for a large commercial aircraft to test the feasibility of the approach and landing at Pescara. With the British Caledonian chief pilot an (Ex-RAF) and Halpenny (also Ex-RAF) on board this manoeuvre was successfully accomplished; now opening up the airport and the region for tourism. Halpenny then arranged for a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Gatwick London and fly to and land at Pescara and return to Gatwick. Commercial flights were now shown to be possible.

As of 1 February 1979, Itavia was forced to suspend its flights to Pescara due to the revision of the "minimum" on some Italian airports dell'ANPAC implemented by the National Association of Civil Aviation Pilots. Raising the minimum in question (distance to the runway and its share – which the pilot must decide whether to continue the landing) depends on proper radio support (such as ILS, Instrument Landing System), and a clear view is essential for landing aircraft in conditions of poor visibility. Itavia itself ceased operations in June 1980.

After the dark period during which the Liberi Airport does not have any connecting line, you start to see a little 'light by restoring the link with the capital of Lombardy, still Ancona, performed by Aermediterranea, a company belonging to the group and IRI owned by Alitalia, which will be operated from 1981 to 1983.

Since 1984, the flight to Milan Linate Airport is managed company of the other group: ATI (Italian Aero Transport) based in Naples. In 1988 it was the turn of the national flag carrier, which brings into play the modern MD-80 and use them until 1994, succeeding on and off, to make the much-awaited direct connection with Milan.

Development since the 1990s

Since 1994, the scheduled flight to Milan Linate Airport is operated by Air One, the company founded in 1983 as a flight school and air taxi companies for services in Abruzzo as the Aliadriatica. In 1996 he opened the current terminal, while the old building was converted for use by technical and logistical support. The project has enabled the airport to offer more comfort and efficiency of service.In the past Airtransat served Toronto but closed this route in 2012.

The development of the airport, from which 114,000 passengers in 2000 rose to over 400,000 in 2008, is due to the low cost phenomenon that affected all of Europe and most of the small Italian airports, involving a positive structure Pescara. Today the airport has a catchment area of over 500,000 passengers annually and connects the city of Pescara and the entire region with many Italian and European destinations.

Initially expected in early 2008 are left at year-end work for the modernization and expansion of the passenger: the arrivals area is not Schengen has been completely redesigned and rebuilt the side of the current (1,500 m²), while the space currently occupied will be converted into the departure area, are there other jobs which include:

• The construction of new gates from 3 to 5 and become a commercial area (bars, shops, rental companies locations) that will be repainted and refurbished for a total of 7,800 m² (currently 6300m²) and in the Schengen area and domestic arrivals, the objective of this work is to increase the number of passengers per year up to 600,000;
• Investments for the demolition of some structures, once used for military use that are then sold to private Air Force, to increase the number of parking spaces for aircraft;
• Construction of two new hangars and cargo area;
• Construction of new helipad for private law enforcement and a new small square for the Coast Guard;
• Extension of the runway and take-off and the construction of a new multi-storey car park for cars;
• Construction of a plant for the treatment of water.

Some of these works have been completed, others are firm and others have not yet begun. The expansion of the APRON 2 has been completed and to date has been usually used as a parking lot parked aircraft and the expansion west of the module is finished already in operation, only the missing link to the old terminal that will happen with the restyling of this' last.

Currently the building of the old passenger terminal was converted to a warehouse and was employed by the airline cargoTNTup to December 2008 and operated by Maersk until October 2010.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines	Destinations
Air Vallée	Catania, Tirana Seasonal: Olbia (begins 11 June 2016)
Alitalia operated by Alitalia Cityliner	Milan-Linate
European Coastal Airlines	Split-Seaport
Ryanair	Beauvais (ends 5 November 2016), Bergamo, Charleroi, Hahn (ends 2 November 2016), London-Stansted (ends 2 November 2016) Seasonal: Girona (ends 26 October 2016), Weeze (ends 29 October 2016)
Wizz Air	Bucharest

Statistics

Statistics for Abruzzo Airport

Year	Total passengers	%	Total aircraft movements	%	Cargo (tonnes)	%
1996	71,908		4,052		152
1997	72,962	2.86	4,618	13.9	195	28.3
1998	104,000	42.54	6,390	38.4	56	−71.3
1999	105,500	1.44	6,310	1.25	476	750
2000	114,024	8.08	9,940	57.5	2,851	499
2001	153,227	34.4	6,775	−31.8	3,115	9.3
2002	295,875	93.1	11,559	70.6	1,913	−38.6
2003	301,773	2.0	10,932	−5.4	1,795	−6.2
2004	334,998	10.9	10,075	−7.8	2,151	19.8
2005	350,447	4.7	10,339	2.6	2,390	11.1
2006	340,699	−2.8	12,139	17.4	2,849	19.2
2007	371,247	9.0	12,085	−0.4	3,291	15.5
2008	402,845	8.5	11,128	−7.9	3,339	1.5
2009	409,045	1.5	9,773	−12.2	2,431	−27.2
2010	461,086	12.7	7,971	−18.4	2,116	−13.0
2011	550,062	19.3	7,827	−1.8	1,200	−43.3
2012	563,187	2.4	8,284	5.8	1,221	1.8
2013	548,217	-2.7	8,017	-3.2	721.1	-40.9
2014	556.679	1,5	6.738	-15,95	44	-93,9
2015	613.427	10,2	10.469	55,95	42	-4,5

Ground transportation

Bus

The airport is connected to the center of Pescara with n.38 line code GTM (vehicle insurance), with which you can reach Piazza della Repubblica, the terminal Buses to the domestic and international destinations. The bus line 38 is also located near the main railway station in the city, the Pescara railway station.

• The airport is connected to the center of Pescara and Chieti with the company ARPA (Regional Public Bus Abruzzo) Chieti-Pescara line with which you can reach the university center "G. D'Annunzio" in Chieti Scalo. The ARPA stop is opposite the exit of the airport car park on the Via Tiburtina Valeria.

Cars

• Coming from Rome: from Autostrada A24 (Italy) Chieti-Pescara exit and merge facilities axis in the direction of Pescara . Exit Sambuceto-Airport and follow signs to the airport.
• Coming from Bologna-Ancona: Autostrada A14, exit at Chieti-Pescara Ovest, turn immediately right (twice) to get onto the road SS5 Tiburtina in the direction of Pescara, then take about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.
• Coming from Bari-Foggia: Autostrada A14 (Italy) Chieti-Pescara Ovest exit, turn immediately right (twice) to get onto Strada statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria in the direction of Pescara, then walk about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.
• Coming from Naples: Autostrada A1 (Italy) towards Rome, exit at Caianello, follow the signs to Isernia, arrived at Isernia go to Vasto until you see the 'Autostrada A14. From the Autostrada A14, exit at Chieti-Pescara Ovest, turn immediately right (twice) to join the Strada statale 5 Via Tiburtina Valeria in the direction of Pescara, then walk about 6 km (3.7 miles) until you reach the airport.

Trolley-line

In addition, the airport will soon be served by the new trolley-line currently under construction that will connect Pescara and its points of reference such as Pescara railway station and other neighboring towns such as Montesilvano and Francavilla al Mare.

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Accident history for PSR at Aviation Safety Network