Early development

The airport was founded by the Aeronautica Militare, Italy's Air Force, in 1926. A flight training facility was in operation between 1933 and 1943. The first hangar was designed by Pier Luigi Nervi, a famous architect. In 1946, a meteorological service was established, and in 1952, the Salerno Air Club was founded. The airport has hosted a Carabinieri helipad since 1975, and a Firefighter helipad and parachuting school since 1984. A new control tower was built in 1987. The airport was used exclusively by the Carabinieri, Vigili del Fuoco, flight and parachuting school and small private jets until 2007.

The airport was then upgraded to accommodate airline service, with four check-in desks, two boarding areas, and new luggage belts and waiting rooms being constructed. The runway has a VOR system and a lighting system. The runway's length was extended to 1,654 m, and in 2011 a project was proposed for the extension of the runway up to 2,020 m and for the creation of new infrastructure and other improvements. The airport was subsequently closed in 2016.

Service resumption

In July 2024, the airport will resume scheduled passenger flights. easyJet and Volotea have already announced they will serve the airport with new domestic and international routes. To accommodate large passenger aircraft, the runway has been extended to 2,000 meters (6,562 feet). In 2025, the construction of a new terminal is planned, along with a runway extension to 2,200 meters (7,218 feet), the creation of more parking space and the construction of a new general aviation terminal. The airport is supposed to be in full operation in 2026 or 2027.^[4] The new terminal, designed by Deerns Group, will have 5 gates (no jetbridges). Its design will let light pass through, creating an open space. It will also have photovoltaic panels on its roof to power the airport and will be built using entirely sustainable materials. The airport will have 8 parking spaces for aircraft and a plaza at the terminal's entrance.