Trieste Airport (TRS)

Trieste Airport is located 21 miles, and 33 km from the city center of Trieste, which is the capital city of Venezia Giulia in Italy.  The airport lies to the west of this city, and is also well known as Friuli Venezia Giulia, or Ronchi dei Legionari. Its full name also includes the name of ‘Pietro Savorgnan di Brazzà’, in honor of this humanitarian explorer of Africa in the 19^th century. It is a small international airport, but equipped to handle all major aircraft.  It is an important gateway to the Friuli – Venezia Giulia region in north-eastern Italy, serving a catchment area of around five million people.

The official IATA code of Trieste Airport is TRS, and ICAO code is LIPQ.  The airport is also nearby a number of important areas, such as the borders of Croatia and Slovenia, Cassegliano, Begliano, Redipuglia, San Pier d’Isonzo, Turriaco, and of course, Ronchi dei Legionari. It handles just over a million passengers per year, and is becoming an increasingly more popular flight destination.  The airline companies in operation from Trieste include Alitalia, with flights to Genoa, Milan-Linate, Naples and Rome-Fiumicino, Belle Air flying to Tirana, Jet Airways flying to Belgrade and Lufthansa, with flights to Munich.  Ryanair is also present and is a very popular low-cost airline.  Their destinations include Birmingham, Brussels South-Charleroi, London-Stansted, Trapani and Valencia. 

The airport has been managed by the company of Aeroporto Friuli-Venezia Giulia S.p.A. since July 1997, and currently has one shareholder, the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region.  In 2007 the management company was awarded with a 40-year concession to continue the management of the airport, and keep up with the responsibilities of planning, development and maintenance of the infrastructures and systems, and the handling of passengers, cargo and aircraft.  The Aeroporto Friuli-Venezia Giulia S.p.A. is also the sole handler. 

Trieste Airport has been in existence since 1935, or at least that was when the first official documents of the airfield were dated.  At this time, the 4^th Fighter Wing of the Royal Italian Air Force was using the Ronchi dei Legionari airfield as their base.  Commercial operations officially began in 1961, on 2 December.  The first official flight was a Douglas CD3 of SAM-Società Aerea Mediterranea, that traveled to Rome.  Over the next few years the airport built up a number of flights to prominent locations in Italy, and also began its international flights in 1967.  In 1970 the Trieste airport reached the 100,000 passenger mark.  Further improvements were made, including extensions to the runway and a new control tower.  In the later 1990’s the Trieste opened its new terminal building dedicated to passengers, and another for only cargo movements.  The passenger terminal is now able to handle two million passengers per year.  By 2001 it was handling over 600,000 passenger per annum, and the construction of two passenger loading bridges was completed in 2003.  One of these was built for wide and narrow bodies, while the other is used for narrow bodies and regional aircraft.  Almost 800,000 passengers used the airport in 2008.  This marked the airport’s third consecutive year of over 700,000 passengers. 

Today it still consists of one large passenger terminal, one runway and one cargo terminal.  The cargo terminal covers an area of 2,830 square meters, and also has a building for office space, a large warehouse with a refrigerated area and a safe for valuable items.  Cargo carriers include Alitalia Cargo, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo, Dragonair Cargo, Etihad Crystal Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo. 

The passenger terminal is well equipped for the needs of arriving and departing passengers, with banking services offered by Bancomat, which is open from Mondays to Fridays between 08:05 and 13:35, and from 15:00 to 15:30.  There is a VIP Lounge which offers a relaxing and comfortable 120 square meter lounge area, equipped with a self-service bar.  Complimentary refreshments and snacks are offered as well.  It is called the FVG Lounge and is located after the security control checkpoint nearby the boarding gates of 8 and 9.  Members of the FVG Club, or Fly Very Good Club, enjoy free and unlimited access to the lounge area, and are also allowed to bring one guest with them.  Members also benefit from a 50% reduction in standard parking rates, or a discounted six-months parking fee, and may use the services of telephone check-in.  Discounts are offered for use of the meeting rooms and conference center as well.  There are two meeting rooms both able to seat up to twelve people, and catering services can be arranged.  One of the rooms is equipped with a plasma-TV screen that can be used with laptop PCs.  There is a larger conference room available, capable of seating up to 90 people, and equipped with all the latest technology that may be required. 

There are a few bars and restaurants one of which is the Skyview that offers self-catering services.  The FreeFly Shop sells a variety of goodies in the secure departure lounge and there is also a landside shop selling newspapers, magazines, books and other souvenirs.  Trieste Airport welcomes disabled and reduced mobility passengers, and has all the facilities to ensure their time is as comfortable as possible.  Further airport information is available at the information desks within the terminal building. 

Find below a choice of Airlines, destination and flight times.