Mayor Bitetti urges permanent civilian flights at Grottaglie Airport

Piero Bitetti, mayor of Taranto, is lobbying for the Marcello Arlotta Airport in Grottaglie to become a lasting gateway for the ionian region. He argues that the upcoming Mediterranean Games should be used as a catalyst to launch regular civilian line flights that continue after the event, complementing cargo and aerospace activities and co‑existing with nearby Bari and Brindisi airports. Bitetti told reporters, “Defining the Grottaglie airport as the Airport of the Mediterranean is not a suggestion, but the only acceptable strategic vision for the future of our land.”

To make the airport fully operational, Bitetti has written to Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi requesting authorization for a police presence, noting that ENAC has indicated the necessary requirements are not yet met. The mayor says the police unit is essential for the airport’s functionality and for securing its role as a stable transport hub for passengers and delegations.

The push aims to overcome what Bitetti describes as a long‑standing infrastructural isolation of the ionian territory, turning the Games into a “spark” that demonstrates the airport’s readiness for sustained international traffic.