Falcone Borsellino Airport, formerly known as Punta Raisi Airport, Falcone Borsellino Airport or simply Palermo Airport, is an international airport in Cinisi, 35 km west northwest of Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily. The port is the third airport in Southern Italy in terms of passenger numbers after Naples-Capodichino and Catania-Fontanarossa, and the ninth port in Italy. The port serves as an alternative port for private jet flights to Sicily.
The airport is named after the surnames of the prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, who were murdered by the Sicilian mafia in 1992. The airport has two intersecting runways, 3,326 meters and 2,068 meters long respectively; the runways are equipped with ILS and all have a PAPI system.
Italy private jet charter prices
Although Falcone Borsellino Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Palermo are as follows.
| Light Jet | 13.750 EUR |
| Midsize Jet | 17.400 EUR |
| Heavy Jet | 23.900 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
History of Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport
The history of the airport dates back to 1953, when it was established to replace Boccadifalco Airport. The airport, then the third national airport, was no longer sufficient for traffic needs, with ever-increasing demands for national and international flights.
During the preliminary studies for the construction of the new airport, two sites were identified: Conca d’oro’s coastline between the municipalities of Bagheria and Ficarazzi and the area known as Punta Raisi in the municipality of Cinisi, between Montagna Longa and the Gulf of Castellammare. The consortium set up for the new port decided to build the airport in Punta Raisi, without holding a public competition to determine the location of the airport and despite all the technicians who gave a negative opinion.
The construction of the airport took place near the territory of the Mafia chief Gaetano Badalamenti. It would later become clear that the politico-mafia interests and power of Cinisi cosca were more than decisive in choosing the location for the construction of the new airport.
In 1956, the execution project was submitted to the Sicilian Region and later to the Ministry of Transportation. It envisaged two parallel runways oriented 07/25, one for taxis and one for flights. The first inaugural flight took place on January 2, 1960 from Rome Ciampino and was made by Gorizia pilot Ferdinando Fioretto, then 29 years old.
From the first activities at the airport, problems arose due to the windy nature of the site and therefore an additional runway was planned, oriented 02/20, diagonal to the other two, oriented 02/20, for which expropriations were necessary, which were also strongly opposed by the journalist Peppino Impastato, who was murdered by the gang of the Cinisi boss.
On the occasion of the World Cup in 1990, several impressive works were launched in the 1980s. A new, larger and more modern air terminal was planned. In order to connect the new air terminal to the city center more quickly, a rail link was planned to connect the airport to the railway line to Trapani. However, construction of the new terminal started too late, in 1987, and the World Cup deadline could not be met, with the new terminal opening in the summer of 1995. However, on the occasion of the World Cup, the air terminal was adapted just in time for the sporting event, with landscaping, targeted reception areas and a special VIP lounge designed by architect Francesco Buffa. However, work on the rail connection did not start until ten years later, and was completed in 2001.
The new air terminal, inaugurated in 1995, is located a short distance from the previous one, which has since been closed and used as a service and freight terminal. In 2001, a branch line of the Palermo-Trapani railway was inaugurated, terminating at level -1 of the air terminal (Punta Raisi station); the line is served by trains of the Palermo metropolitan railway service, which serves the city center with several intermediate stops.
The old air terminal was used for a short period between 2004 and 2006 as an arrivals area in connection with the renovation of some areas of the airport; finally, since 2007, part of the old air terminal was modified to accommodate a car rental service.
In 2009, CIPE and the Sicilian Region allocated around 200 million Euros for the complete renovation of the air terminal and the creation of new support facilities. Since its opening in 1960, Palermo Airport has become an important base for Alitalia, which operates flights from Palermo-Boccadifalco Airport to Naples and Rome.
List of places to visit in Palermo
Palermo, which dates back to 734 BC, is one of the cities that attracts attention with its social life and architecture as well as its historical and cultural structures.
Among the must-see spots in the city; Montreal Cathedral famous for its mosaics, Palazzo dei Normanni (Norman Palace) built during the Norman rule, Piazza Verdi, which is considered the most important square of Palermo, Massimo Theater, which has the title of the largest opera house in the country, Cefalu, which stands out with its nature, architecture and coastline, The Cappuccini Catacombs Skeleton Museum, known as the “House of the Dead”, the Palatine Chapel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with its ceiling design and sculptures, Piazza Politeama, one of the liveliest squares in the city, and Porta Nuova, one of the oldest buildings in Palermo.
Ways to get from Palermo Airport to the city center
The buses serving between the airport and the city center are also known as The Prestia e Comande and these buses depart from the stops just outside the terminal building. Departing every 30 minutes, it takes approximately 45 minutes to reach the center.
The easiest way to get from the port to the city center is to use the taxis at the taxi stands outside the port. Although taxi fares are high, the fact that all drivers speak English makes it very comfortable for those who are new to the city.
Airport shuttles from the port are almost the only option for passengers with a lot of luggage, although they charge more than taxis. There are also offices of different car rental companies in the port.
