Naples – A tug-of-war is brewing over the Capodichino runway. At the heart of the dispute is the schedule for the redevelopment works scheduled for 2026, which threaten to paralyze Neapolitan air traffic.
On one side, ENAC (Italian National Civil Aviation Authority), which is calling the operator to order; on the other, GESAC, which is defending its actions, citing the need for planning.
The fuse was lit by Gesac's announcement that the airport would be closed for a total of 54 days—with a complete shutdown scheduled for November 2026—to allow for a thorough runway resurfacing. This announcement didn't sit well with ENAC's top brass, who immediately reprimanded the management company.
ENAC's attack: "We decide."
The Authority's position is clear: the final decision on the schedule rests with the supervisory authority, and it cannot be made before reviewing the executive project. "At this time, the project has not yet been sent to the Authority for approval," an official statement reads.
The president of theENACPierluigi Di Palma, in no uncertain terms, speaks of a failure by the Neapolitan operator: "As we have repeatedly reiterated, we want to limit the number of days the airport is closed as much as possible." The stated goal is to protect citizens' right to mobility and safeguard businesses' profits, minimizing operational disruption. For Di Palma, the priority is to optimize construction time, an assessment that can only be made after the final technical investigation.
Gesac's defense: "Everything is in order."
The reply from Capodichino arrived shortly after. GESAC The company rejects the accusations, denying any procedural irregularities. The company notes that the time estimates (54 days of construction, including 24 days for complete completion) are derived from the Technical-Economic Feasibility Project (PTFE), which ENAC itself approved on October 24, 2025.
"The executive project was awarded to a leading company through a €19,4 million tender," the operator explains, emphasizing that announcing the dates was a duty to the market. "Airlines must plan their operations in advance," concludes the Gesac statement, justifying the announcement of the suspension from November 1 to 30, 2026, as a necessary move for operational and logistical transparency, based precisely on the preliminary indications received from the Authority.
It now remains to be seen whether the executive project, once presented, will succeed in the difficult task of reconciling runway safety with the need to avoid cutting off Naples from the skies for almost a month.
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