Airport management approaches vary significantly. Some entities manage airports as interconnected networks, while others operate autonomously, overseeing only a few airports. Furthermore, airport ownership can be public, private, or a hybrid of both.
These diverse practices profoundly affect an airport’s ability to attract desirable airlines. Airline competition strategies are intrinsically linked to airport accessibility. Therefore, Rome airport management practices influence airline competition within Italy and across European airports. Despite ongoing regulation of international services, travelers now benefit from expanded choices, increased flight frequencies, and competitive pricing.
The consensus is that sustaining and enhancing these benefits in the post-liberalization era hinges on robust competition on flight routes. Historically, many EU airports, including those in Rome, were public service organizations. Privatization policies in recent decades have led to a variety of airport ownership models, reflecting diverse historical and political contexts within EU countries. This variety makes the EU a compelling case study, especially considering that airport finance and airline access share common characteristics globally, with the notable exception of the United States.