Two Italian airports have earned prominent positions in the 2026 World Consumer Airport Index, placing Italy among the countries represented near the top of the international rankings.
Rome Fiumicino ranks No. 2 among the world’s major airports, behind only Barcelona-El Prat. Milan Malpensa, meanwhile, takes fifth place in the separate ranking for smaller airports.
The World Consumer Airport Index evaluates airports from a passenger-centered perspective. Its criteria include passenger traffic, direct metro or rail connections to city centers, flight delays, security waiting times and the availability of nearby hotels. Airports are divided by size to make comparisons between facilities with different traffic volumes more meaningful.
Fiumicino’s second-place finish reinforces an already strong international reputation. Italy’s largest airport handled more than 51.3 million passengers in 2025 – 4% more than the previous year and 18% above 2019 levels. The Rome hub has also retained its Skytrax five-star rating and ranked seventh worldwide in the 2026 Skytrax airport ranking.
Its strengths include connectivity, passenger services, operational efficiency, innovation and an ambitious modernization program. Aeroporti di Roma is pursuing €9 billion in long-term investment, with plans designed to support capacity of up to 100 million passengers annually by 2046.
Malpensa’s fifth-place position among smaller airports provides another strong result for Italy. The Milan hub benefits from extensive international connectivity and its strategic role serving one of Europe’s most important economic regions.
Together, the two rankings highlight the increasingly competitive position of Italy’s major international gateways and the continuing investment in improving the passenger experience.
