Comiso Airport
Comiso Airport "Pio La Torre", also known as Vincenzo Magliocco Airport, is located in the Sicilian town of Comiso in the Ragusa province. The airport serves Comiso, located at 5 km from it, Ragusa at 15 km from it, Vittoria and Gela. It changed from military to civil use during 2005–2008. The airport was opened to commercial and general aviation at May 30, 2013.
Thanks to its position this airport is a good landing base for those that are looking for a beach holiday along the southern coast of Sicily (e.g. Sampieri, Marina di Ragusa, Scoglitti), for a cultural tour among the baroque Unesco world heritages (Noto, Ragusa, Modica, Scicli) or to explore the location of famous Sicilian film and TV serials like inspector Montalbano. The Comiso Airport is about 1 hour away by car from the Catania Fontanarossa airport and is a good alternative for low-cost airlines. During the eruptions of Mount Etna it can also be a substitutive destination if the airport of Catania is closed.
Airport Terminals and Airlines
Comiso Airport has a small terminal that previously served the military, but today handles commercial flights to several European destinations. There are only a handful of airlines operating to and from the Comiso Airport, and catering for only a few destinations. Air Malta, Alitalia, Brussels Airlines Ryanair and Thomas Cook Airlines all have scheduled both regular and seasonal flights from this airport.
Airport Services and Facilities
The Comiso Airport is very small and has only the basic necessities the travelers may require. Aside from a few spots where you can grab a snack and a hot cup of coffee, there’s not much to do here. In addition, the airport has a Duty Free shop where you can do some late gift shopping, however it is not really spectacular. Free Wi-Fi is also available at Comiso Airport for up to 1 hour. So if you have a long layover here, we suggest you to go out and explore the area, or book a room for a good night sleep.
There are marvelous restaurants and sightseeing options at Comiso and Ragusa, so you may want to consider grabbing a transportation to any of these towns for a day visit. The region in general offers amazing Sicilian food and wine, there are lovely beaches nearby and plenty of sightseeing spots to explore. In addition, if you have a longer layover and need to spend the night, there are also a plethora of affordable hotels you can choose from. Just make sure to book your room before you arrive.
Comiso Airport provides people with disabilities or reduced mobility services, such as parking and dedicated access, elevators equipped with braille keys, dedicated restrooms, first aid station with ambulance service, as well as mobile platforms elevating for boarding the plane.
Ground Transportation
When it comes to airport transportation, there are several bus lines managed by various bus companies (Azienda Siciliana Trasporti, Autolinee Regionali Srl, Tumino, etc.) that commute to the airport and back, coming from Ragusa and Comiso. There’s also a train from Ragusa to Comiso which takes 30 minutes, but if you are looking to get to the airport, a private bus line is the only solution.
In addition to this public transportation option (or perhaps paying for a taxi service which here is not so cheap), you can also book a reliable door-to-door private transportation with UpTransfers, carried out with a modern fleet of fully licensed and insured vehicles, and be welcomed at the airport by an English-speaking driver - an excellent choice for traveling with style. Having in mind that the airport is pretty small and there’s not much to do, we also suggest booking a daily transfer with UpTransfers for exploring the nearby areas, in case you have a longer waiting time. The driver can drop you off wherever you’d like, suggest what to see and what to do in the area, and later pick you up from a desired location to take you back at the airport. It is quite convenient, hassle-free and affordable, making for a perfect daily adventure!