Il airport sector it is essential to support the competitiveness and growth of the entire country. Considering the related industries and activities, it is a sector that it's worth 42 billion a year and that it employs around one million people (as noted in a report by the Sectoral Strategies and Impact Department of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti), which has become fundamental not only for tourism, but also for other sectors, such as foreign trade, enhancing the possibility of accessing new markets and creating new outlets for Italian companies. Airports therefore need a constant flow of investments, to satisfy the growing demand for passengers but also to cope with the increase in freight traffic. Above all, airports must guarantee sustainability needs by implementing those investments that allow them to save energy both through improved efficiency of aircraft traffic (to enable significant fuel savings) and through the improved efficiency of all ground services, even these with high energy consumption.
From CDP 3,6 billion for complex infrastructures
CDP has always been committed to supporting infrastructure investments and, on the basis of the Strategic Plan launched in 2022, in recent years it has strengthened its activity in this sector, to offer consultancy and participate in the related financing with a complementary action with respect to the banking system, European programs and private investors. In 2023 alone, for example, CDP has allocated 3,6 billion euros to operations aimed at the realization of complex infrastructures.
The Infrastructure Department which operates within Cassa and is entrusted to Charles Lamari precisely has the objective, as the manager recalls, of "invest in a targeted way in network infrastructures, on the development of renewables and on European interconnections but also on social infrastructures and utilities".
Specifically, it also played a key role in support airport infrastructure development projects, financing important companies such as Aeroporti di Roma, the SAVE group and GESAC (the concessionary company for the management, maintenance and development of the airports of Naples and Salerno).
For the ports of Rome, a loan of 5 million euro for a plan to install electric charging stations for vehicles circulating in Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. For the SAVE group, CDP participated in a loan of 640 million together with other operators to strengthen the ports of Venice and Treviso, with a series of investments to enhance the energy efficiency of the structures. For the airports of Naples and Salerno, a loan of 135 million was granted to a pool of financiers, including CDP, aimed at supporting sustainable development and energy efficiency initiatives.
Cdp: 250 million mobilized for various airport managers
CDP's commitment to the sector is continually growing. In recent years they have been mobilized approximately 250 million euro of own resources (useful to mobilize further investments) in favor of various airport managers with operations aimed at supporting strategic projects in a sector which, as mentioned, not only weighs heavily on the national economy, but above all is fundamental for the development of tourism and freight traffic.
The importance of the airport sector for our country's economy and our ability to be increasingly competitive in intercepting the growing traffic volumes of both passengers and goods is constantly growing. Other countries have invested heavily in these infrastructures by creating hubs that aspire to attract large volumes of traffic. In this international context, it is no longer sufficient to have an adequate number of airports, but it is necessary that they are managed efficiently, aiming both at reducing costs and saving energy.
