Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino International Airport

Leonardo da Vinci International Airport or simply Rome Fiumicino Airport, also known as just Fiumicino Airport, is an international airport in Rome and the major airport in Italy. It is one of the busiest airports in Europe by passenger traffic with 41.7 million passengers served in 2016. It is located in Fiumicino, 18.9NM west of Rome's historic city centre.The airport serves as the main hub for Alitalia, the largest Italian airline and Vueling, a Spanish low-cost carrier owned by International Airlines Group. Based on total passenger numbers, it is the eighth-busiest airport in Europe and was the world's 36th-busiest airport in 2015. It covers an area of 29km2 and is named after the most recognized polymath; Leonardo da Vinci who, in 1480, designed a flying machine with wings and the first proto helicopter.HistoryEarly yearsThe airport was officially opened on 15 January 1961, with two runways, replacing the smaller Rome Ciampino Airport, which remains in service for some low cost airlines as well as domestic and charter operations. Despite being officially opened in 1961, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport had actually been in use since 20 August 1960. This was to help relieve air traffic that was congesting Rome Ciampino Airport during the 1960 Summer Olympics.