Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) is the busiest airport in Sicily, handling around 12 million passengers a year across two terminals, Terminal A and Terminal C. The map below shows both terminals with their gates, check-in areas and parking. The airport sits on the coast about 6 km southwest of central Catania, roughly 15 minutes away by car or bus.
Around 40 airlines use Catania. ITA Airways, Lufthansa and KLM cover hubs such as Rome, Munich and Amsterdam, while low-cost carriers, above all Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet, dominate the schedule with routes across Italy and Europe. The Catania to Rome Fiumicino route is one of the busiest air routes in the country.
The Alibus runs from outside arrivals to the city centre and Catania Centrale station every 20-25 minutes, a journey of about 15 minutes. Since 2021 the airport has also had its own railway station, Catania Aeroporto Fontanarossa, about 600 meters from the terminal, served by regional trains on the Messina to Syracuse line. Taxis wait directly in front of arrivals.
There are two terminals at Catania Airport: Terminal A and Terminal C. Both terminals are quite close to each other. There are parking areas in front of the terminals.
Interactive Catania Airport Map
The map below shows Catania Fontanarossa on the coast about 4 km southwest of the city centre, with Mount Etna rising to the north. Zoom in for the Alibus stop, parking areas and the road in from the SS114; the terminal map above covers Terminal A and Terminal C inside.
Catania Airport Terminals
There are two main terminals at Catania Airport: Terminal A and Terminal C. These two terminals are within walking distance of each other.
Terminal A is the airport’s main terminal and handles both domestic and international flights, with 22 gates, three of them reserved for non-Schengen departures. ITA Airways, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and KLM all operate from here. Arrivals and baggage claim sit on the ground floor, departures and security on the upper floor. Inside there are ATMs, a currency exchange office, duty-free shops, cafes and restaurants, a children’s play area and a baby care room.
Terminal C serves only easyJet flights. The terminal has 6 check-in counters and 5 boarding gates. Terminal C is right next to Terminal A. The distance between the terminals is only a few minutes. If you are flying with easyJet, you should go directly to Terminal C.
Catania Airport Car Rental
A rental car is the easiest way to explore Sicily beyond Catania. Mount Etna’s lower slopes are about 45 minutes from the airport, and the baroque towns of Val di Noto and the island’s quieter beaches all sit within day-trip range.
Ancient Taormina and Teatro Antico are an hour’s drive away. You can reach the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Siracusa and Ortigia Island in an hour by car. In other words, there are many places you can explore with a rental car from Catania.
At the airport, there are car rental offices for Hertz, Sixt, Noleggiare, Locauto Rent-Enterprise, Holiday Car Rental, B-Rent, and AG Transfers. The car rental offices are located on the arrivals level of Terminal A, just outside the baggage claim area. A driver’s license, credit card and passport are required at pickup. Between June and September demand outstrips supply, so book before your trip; online rates are usually cheaper than the counter.
Catania Airport VIP Lounge
Catania Airport has two lounges. The Angelo D’Arrigo VIP Lounge sits airside in Terminal A, between Gates 5 and 6, and admits Priority Pass and DragonPass members, business class passengers and walk-in guests who pay at the door. The lounge has been closed for expansion work in recent seasons, so check its current status on the airport’s website before you rely on it.
When open, it offers a buffet of Sicilian snacks, sandwiches and Italian coffee, along with Wi-Fi, newspapers and work areas. The second option is the ITA Airways lounge, Piazza Vincenzo Bellini, a small landside lounge before security reserved for ITA’s premium passengers.
Hotels in Catania Airport
There are no hotels inside the terminal at Catania Airport. However, there are many hotels around the airport.
Catania International Airport Hotel is within walking distance of the terminal. It also offers a free shuttle service for its guests. The hotel has a 24-hour reception service, so you can check in at any time. Magnolia Boutique Rooms and Fontanarossa Airport Apartment are also very close to the airport. Romano Palace Luxury Hotel is approximately 2 km from the airport. This hotel has a conference room and business center.
If you prefer to stay in the city center, you can stay at hotels such as Mercure Catania Excelsior. The Alibus links city centre hotels with the airport in 15-20 minutes. For an early flight, confirm when breakfast starts and whether the shuttle runs at your departure hour before you book.
Catania Airport Location
Catania International Airport Address: Via Fontanarossa, 95121 Catania CT, Italy.
Catania International Airport IATA: CTA.
Catania International Airport ICAO: LICC.