Pisa Airport Opens New Arrivals Terminal as Part of €80 Million Expansion

Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport inaugurated its new arrivals terminal on Monday, 12 October, 2026, marking the completion of the first phase of an €80 million expansion and redevelopment project scheduled to continue until 2028.

The new building covers approximately 7,100 square metres and will eventually accommodate all arriving passengers, allowing the existing terminal to be used exclusively for departures.

The project is being financed entirely by Toscana Aeroporti, the company that operates both Pisa and Florence airports. It aims to increase passenger capacity, reorganise airport facilities and improve the separation of arriving and departing travellers.

A new terminal for arriving passengers

The new arrivals building includes a 300-kilowatt photovoltaic system designed to support its energy needs.

Although the terminal has been officially inaugurated, it is not yet operational. Technical testing and commissioning must be completed before arriving passengers can begin using the new facilities. No specific opening date for passenger services has been announced.

Once the transfer is complete, arrivals and departures will be handled in separate buildings, freeing up space in the existing terminal for further redevelopment.

Airport capacity to reach 7 million passengers

The new terminal forms part of a larger programme that will increase the airport’s total floor area to approximately 50,600 square metres, a 28% increase compared with its previous configuration.

Subsequent phases will involve renovating existing arrivals and departures areas and expanding the boarding facilities for flights to destinations outside the Schengen Area.

The boarding area is expected to more than double in size, increasing from approximately 3,150 square metres to more than 6,500 square metres.

The completed airport will have an estimated annual capacity of between 6 million and 7 million passengers. The redevelopment also includes additional retail and catering areas, digital services and improvements to passenger facilities.

Construction work is expected to continue while the airport remains operational, with the remaining phases scheduled for completion by 2028.

Passenger traffic continues to grow

The expansion comes as Pisa Airport records increasing passenger numbers.

In September 2026, the airport handled approximately 664,000 passengers, its highest figure ever recorded for that month and an increase of 10.6% compared with September 2025.

During the first nine months of 2026, passenger traffic exceeded 5 million for the first time, representing growth of 6.6% compared with the same period in the previous year.

Across Pisa and Florence airports, combined passenger numbers exceeded 8 million between January and September 2026.

What the expansion means for Florence and Tuscany

Pisa Airport is one of the main international gateways to Tuscany, serving travellers heading to Florence, Pisa, Lucca and other destinations across the region.

Located approximately 80 kilometres west of Florence, it complements Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport, which primarily serves European routes and shorter-distance connections.

The two airports are operated by Toscana Aeroporti, although they have different infrastructure and development plans.

For passengers travelling to Florence, the redevelopment will not change the location of Pisa Airport or its existing transport connections. However, the separation of arrivals and departures and the expansion of boarding areas are intended to accommodate increasing traffic and improve the organisation of passenger services.

The airport’s redevelopment began with preparatory works in 2022, following approval of its masterplan in 2019 and delays associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Construction of the new arrivals building moved forward after the executive project was approved in 2024.

The inauguration represents the first completed stage of the wider programme, with further work planned over the next two years.

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