Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport — Rome, Italy

Long before Fiumicino existed, CIA handled the bulk of Rome's air traffic, and even today its proximity to the city center, just southeast along the Appian Way corridor, keeps it relevant for budget carriers and general aviation despite a runway too short for most widebody jets. The airport carries the name of Giovanni Battista Pastine, an early Italian aviator, and its compact terminal has become synonymous with low-cost travel across Europe, particularly the extensive network of routes linking Rome to dozens of secondary cities that carriers like Ryanair operate. Private jets and charter flights round out much of the remaining traffic, taking advantage of shorter taxi times and easier access compared with the sprawling Fiumicino complex further west. Because it sits so close to residential neighborhoods, noise restrictions and curfews shape the daily schedule more strictly than at Rome's larger airport. Ground transportation into the historic center takes a fraction of the time required from Fiumicino, a convenience that keeps price-conscious travelers choosing CIA despite its more limited range of destinations and airline partners.