Grottaglie Airport to launch cargo route to Istanbul and explore passenger flights

The Puglia Regional Council has unanimously approved a strategic project to develop the agrifood logistics sector at the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport. A key component of this initiative is the establishment of a commercial cargo route between Grottaglie and Istanbul, intended to serve as a logistics hub for Southern Italian businesses, particularly for the rapid transport of fresh produce to international markets.

In addition to the cargo development, Regional President Antonio Decaro announced plans to issue a public call to gauge interest from airlines regarding the introduction of passenger flights at the Grottaglie airport. This move has sparked significant political debate within the region. While some officials support the expansion to improve territorial connectivity, others, including representatives from Brindisi, argue that the plan may cause harmful duplication and ignore the high costs of infrastructure upgrades compared to the established Brindisi Airport.

Other regional discussions include the need for public service obligations to ensure the sustainability of new routes and the ongoing development of rail links to regional airports, which face rising costs and delayed timelines.