AIRPORT REVIEW
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2 The ENAV Control tower and facilities in Florence . The area also hosts some large private jets .
3 The departures and arrivals terminal in Florence is just a few meters from the tram station . The area in front includes short-stay parking and car rentals .
4 The small arrivals lounge has few seats and can barely handle rush hour arrivals . Passengers from Florence often cross this area to reach the upstairs check-in kiosks . land and take off , but also represents a source of discomfort for travelers and the city ’ s inhabitants .
The airport is infamous for its wind conditions , which result in go-arounds and above average rates of flight diversions to Pisa ( PSA ), Bologna ( BLQ ), and even Rome Fiumicino ( FCO ). But wind is not the only atmospheric condition that directly affects FLR ’ s operations . As temperatures rise — which they do very much during the summer months , reaching up to 40 ° C ( 104 o F )— the air ’ s density decreases , constraining the lift that aircraft can generate at take-off and thus limiting their maximum takeoff weights . Airlines often have to deny some passengers boarding during the warmer hours of the day due to take-off weight concerns — reducing outbound occupancy and thus decreasing their profit margins — or cancel flights altogether .
The runway ’ s orientation is responsible for high noise levels in some populated areas . While this issue has recently lessened thanks to nextgeneration E2 and A320neo jets , residents have complained for decades .
In 2007 , Airbus modified its A319s and A318s to improve their landing performance in Florence . The so-called ‘ Florence Kit ’ involves a set of adjustments that , among other things , deflects the spoilers upwards to improve braking efficiency when the plane touches down , and shifts the aircrafts ’ centers of gravity upstream during descent to enable them to decrease their approach speed .
Over the years , political discussions have been carried out with nearby cities to identify a location for a new runway . The City of Florence has always pushed for a new air strip , but its smaller neighbors have historically opposed the project for political , environmental , or ideological reasons .
The proposed runway should feature a new TORA of up to 2,400m ( 7,900ft ), involve an investment of over € 300 million ( US $ 327 million ), and run parallel to the airport ’ s main access highway .
Florence ’ s Major Dario Nardella has frequently highlighted the importance of a new runway as a ‘ necessary ’ turning point for Florence . The project , supported by the European Union , has been met with fierce opposition by the numerous neighboring small city councils and residents ’ associations , which have blocked the expansion plan on multiple occasions .
36 AIRWAYS MAGAZINE AUGUST 2024 www . airwaysmag . com