Comiso airport, in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, was a US-controlled NATO airbase until about 20 years ago. Since then, the Sicilian people have eagerly been awaiting its reincarnation as a civilian airport.
We chose to fly to Comiso for a few reasons (novelty, I'll admit, was probably one), but primarily because Ryanair were running flights there from Stanstead for a comparatively reasonable £85pp or there abouts. That's reasonable when compared to BA's Gatwick-Catania fare which has been steadily increasing recently (we considered ourselves lucky, at Easter to find flights on that route for 'only' £225pp).
As we disembarked, crowds of people were pressed up to the windows of the arrivals hall observation deck, eager to catch a glimpse of their loved ones descending from the plane. Once we had cleared passport control and visited the baggage carousel we headed out to the arrivals hall to an excitable crowd. Ours was the only plane arriving and it wasn't even full; the were far too many people here! The feeling of this being an event was almost tangible. But of course, the first time you go to a newly opened airport IS an event. Rather than having to search for someone willing to drive out to the airport to meet family members returning from their journey to London, everyone wanted to come along for the trip! The result was that that there were probably three or four times the number of people waiting as passengers on the flight.
Aeroporto Civile di Comiso is so new you can practically still smell the paint. It doesn't even seem to have a 'bar' (coffee shop) yet, however if you arrive hungry, the little panineria outside will be a welcome sight.
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