Abruzzo Airport

Abruzzo Airport (IATA: PSR, ICAO: LIBP) is an airport located near Pescara, Italy. It is located approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) from the centre of Pescara, about 180 km (112 miles) from Rome, a 2-hour drive by car on a motorway across the Appennine mountains. It is the only international airport in the Abruzzo region. Open to civilian traffic since 1996, it has seen a steady increase in the number of transit passengers over the years, mainly due to an growth in low-cost airlines and flights.

History

Early years

In 1973 the English historian Bruce Barrymore Halpenny, then living in Abruzzo, organised a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Genoa to Pescara as a test flight for a large commercial aircraft to test the feasibility of the approach and landing at Pescara. With the British Caledonian chief pilot an (Ex-RAF) and Halpenny (also Ex-RAF) on board this manoeuvre was successfully accomplished; now opening up the airport and the region for tourism. Halpenny then arranged for a British Caledonian BAC 111 to take off from Gatwick London and fly to and land at Pescara and return to Gatwick.Commercial flights were now shown to be possible.