Genoa airport seeks private partners to grow. Passengers 2025 expected to exceed the record of 1.53 million

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Genoa Cristoforo Colombo airport has decided to open its shareholding structure to private shareholders. A move that, according to what the president Enrico Musso explained to Il Sole 24Ore Radiocor, "is fundamental for the development" of the Genoa airport. The Adsp del Mar Ligure Occidentale currently holds 60% of the company, the Genoa Chamber of Commerce 25% and Adr 15%. From a financial point of view, managing director Francesco D'Amico explained: 'after a 2024 that we closed with a return to profit, the first figures for 2025 are in line with the forecasts contained in the current industrial plan. In 2025 we count on surpassing the historical record of 2019 in passenger traffic. Consequently, we also expect positive results from an economic-financial point of view."

"The first months of 2025," said D'Amico, "have confirmed the growth trend in passenger traffic. Indeed, a significant increase of 15.8% was recorded in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024, with over 255,000 passengers handled. These results were positively impacted by the increase in frequencies and capacity by Klm (Amsterdam), the expansion of the connection to Tirana, the new flight to Budapest operated by Wizzair, and the strengthening of domestic routes by Ryanair (Bari, Palermo, Catania and London). After a month of March closed with a growth of 18.3% compared to the same period in 2024 and an increase in flights of 6.3%, we expect double-digit growth for April (over +10% on April 2024) also driven by the Easter-25 April and May 1 holidays".

The top manager recalled how "2024 closed positively with1.3 million passengers registered, up 4.3% compared to 2023. The goal for 2025 is to surpass the historical record of passengers handled - 1.53 million - recorded in 2019, one year ahead of the industrial plan. In addition to the growth in passenger traffic, we will also have to focus our efforts on boosting cargo traffic, which currently still has low volumes. From this perspective, we expect positive returns from the agreement signed with the freight forwarding consortium GOAS'. President Musso also spoke on the subject: "We are satisfied that 2024 closed with positive and growing margins: revenues reached EUR 30.1 million, an increase of 4.6% compared to EUR 28.8 million in 2023. The ebitda also showed a marked turnaround, standing at EUR 2.3 million compared to a negative result of EUR 803,000 in 2023. Finally, the net profit also turned positive at EUR 255 thousand, compared to a loss of EUR 1.88 million in 2023. This improvement was made possible by careful characteristic management and efficiency gains combined with a strengthening of the commercial activity, which made it possible to increase revenues and reduce costs, enabling the airport to achieve positive results in terms of marginality". The president pointed out that "in 2025 we expect to surpass the 2019 historical passenger traffic record. Consequently, we also expect positive results from an economic-financial point of view. After a 2024 that we closed with a return to profit, the first figures for 2025 are in line with the forecasts contained in the current industrial plan'.

The Genoese sclao also aims to expand its routes to new destinations. "We are looking with great attention at the Polish market where we will inaugurate two new routes to Warsaw and Krakow operated by Wizz Air, a company that will also confirm the flight to Budapest launched last winter season and the increase in connections to Tirana for the summer. Also confirmed are the two daily flights to Amsterdam (Klm) and Munich (Air Dolomiti - Lufthansa). Important news also regarding the enhancement of already active connections with the doubling of flights to Paris Orly operated by Volotea and the intensification of routes to Barcelona operated by Vueling. In addition, seasonal routes to Manchester, Bucharest, Brindisi (Ryanair), Copenhagen (SAS) and Olbia (Ita Airways, in addition to the Volotea flight) will also return. Finally, an important novelty is the resumption of charter flights for cruise passengers, absent for three years'. On the new connections front, 'we have various interlocutions underway and at the recent Routes Europe 2025 in Seville, which we attended, we received numerous appreciations for the work done so far,' said D'Amico.

After the recent inauguration of the new east wing, an investment of about 15 million euro that doubled the airport's capacity to 3 million passengers per year, "Genoa City Airport is preparing to experience a season of further investments that, by 2026, will redesign the entire face of the airport and offer travellers a best-in-class experience," said President Mussi. "The investment, worth 12.6 million euro, will be realised within 12/18 months while keeping the airport in operation and foresees, among the numerous interventions, the external restyling, the modernisation of the boarding lounges and the realisation of 10 new check-in, in addition to the enhancement of the border control areas, the installation of e-gates and the creation of a new sea view lounge. In addition, over €80 million of investments are planned by Rfi for infrastructural works that will improve the airport's accessibility, including the new Genoa Airport railway station and the pedestrian walkway with treadmill that will connect the airport to the railway in just 6 minutes on foot".