ITALY. Aeroporti di Roma (AdR) has inaugurated the new non-Schengen boarding zone E at Rome Fiumicino Airport, which will accommodate six million passengers a year. [We’ll bring you an on location report from Rome with images shortly.]
Linked to the new pier is a 10,000sq m airport mall, the Piazza del Made in Italy. This houses one of the broadest commercial offers at any European airport, according to AdR.
Spread over three floors, it features 40 shops dedicated to leading luxury brands. The shopping gallery offers ten restaurants, from Italian to Asian. AdR said that these house “a rich variety of food and wine products and pairings for all tastes, from excellent Italian products prepared, among others, by Michelin-starred chef Heinz Beck”. The Design Solution played a key role in developing the retail areas.
The investment in the project amounted to €390 million. The pier is equipped with 22 gates, including eight created on the ground floor of the shopping mall.
The architectural concept of the area, created by airport owner Atlantia Group, was inspired by the historic and artistic heritage of the city of Rome.
The company said: “The classic shapes, combined with the transparency and maximum use of natural light, give passengers the impression of finding themselves at the centre of the slopes. A giant glass ‘bubble’, surrounded by a large glass window running along the entire window, provide a perfect view of the outside and of the sky.”
All artificial lighting was created with LED systems (over 16,000 lamps). The effect is a “starry sky” on the vaults of the ceiling.
An official opening was held yesterday, led by Atlantia Group CEO Giovanni Castellucci and Aeroporti di Roma CEO Ugo de Carolis. Joining them were Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Graziano Delrio, President of the Lazio Region Nicola Zingaretti, Mayor of Fiumicino Esterino Montino and Italian Civil Aviation Authority Enac President Vito Riggio.
