A Major Closure in Southern Italy
Naples airport closed on 1 November and will remain shut until 30 November for what officials describe as a comprehensive runway renovation. The work carries a €30 million price tag and involves a 500-person crew resurfacing the runway and redeveloping connecting roads.
According to GESAC, the airport operator, the closure follows strict industry regulations and reflects the company's commitment to operational safety. The month-long shutdown is designed to bring the runway up to long-term safety standards without the complications of keeping the airport partially open during construction.
The timing is deliberate. November sits outside the peak summer tourist season, when passenger volumes through Naples typically surge. Still, the closure affects a major gateway to southern Italy, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Capri, forcing airlines and travellers to adapt.
Where Flights Are Going Instead
Some flights originally scheduled through Naples have been temporarily transferred to Salerno Costa d'Amalfi e del Cilento airport, roughly an hour's drive south. The smaller airport will handle connections to 15 domestic and international destinations throughout November.
On the domestic side, Ryanair is operating a service to Bergamo, while easyJet is running flights to Milan Malpensa. International routes from Salerno include nine destinations: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Casablanca, Dubai, Madrid and Sharm el-Sheikh among them.
Both terminals at Salerno will stay open to manage the additional traffic. The General Aviation Terminal will handle flights to Casablanca, Dubai, Sharm el-Sheikh and Madrid, while the main terminal takes the rest.
For travellers, the shift means longer ground journeys. Salerno airport is farther from Naples city centre and popular tourist areas than Naples airport, which sits just a few kilometres northeast of the city. The detour adds time and logistical complexity, particularly for those unfamiliar with the region.
Ground Transport Between Naples and Salerno
To ease the inconvenience, special bus services will run between Naples Piazza Garibaldi and Salerno airport throughout November, operating in both directions. Frequency on the route between Salerno airport and Salerno railway station has also been increased.
Shared taxi services will charge fixed fares between Salerno airport and major railway stations in Naples and Salerno, an attempt to keep costs predictable during the disruption.
The measures help, but they don't eliminate the added travel time or the need for travellers to plan ahead. Anyone with flights booked through Naples in November should confirm their departure airport well in advance and factor in extra time for the journey.
A Pattern Across European Airports
Naples is not the only airport in the region closing for upgrades this winter. Chios Island National airport in Greece, also known as Omiros airport, will shut from 15 November 2026 to 15 March 2027 for runway extension and upgrade work, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority.
The Greek closure is longer and timed to avoid the 2027 tourist season, with officials citing the need to improve air connectivity and resilience against winter weather. Both closures reflect a broader trend: airports using the quieter months to tackle infrastructure work that would be too disruptive during peak travel periods.
For Naples, the bet is that a month of inconvenience now will pay off in improved safety and efficiency later. Whether that trade-off feels worthwhile depends largely on where you're trying to fly in November.
