Amalfi Coast, Italy
Starting this summer, visiting the candy-colored buildings perched high above the azure waters of the Amalfi Coast will be less of a headache for travelers. That’s because the popular tourist spot in Southern Italy is finally getting its own commercial airport. The town is converting what used to be a military airport, and later a private airport, to a facility to be used by everyday travelers. The first flights are set to take off on July 11 and will be operated by Spanish airline Volotea, with routes from Nantes, France, and Cagliri, Sardinia, according to CNN. However, the complete renovation is not scheduled to be complete until 2026, and other airlines and routes will be added along the way.
Nuuk, Greenland
In one of the country’s most significant moves to enhance tourism, Greenland is debuting a major expansion of the airport in its capital city, Nuuk. The new airport’s runway will be double the size of the old one—big enough to handle nonstop flights from destinations in North America and Europe. That means much more simplified travel for international visitors, who would previously have to transit through the small town of Kangerlussuaq. The new terminal building is expected to be operational by May 2024, with the full facility up and running by the end of November.
Dominica
The “Nature Island” of the Caribbean—Dominica—started construction on its first international airport in late 2023. It’s set to be one of the island’s largest construction projects ever. When it’s completed by 2026, the new airport will replace the current regional facility that has just three gates. By contrast, the international airport is slated to serve more than 20 airlines from the Caribbean, Europe, and North America, each of which will be able to fly directly to Dominica, the country’s prime minister said in 2022, making it easier for far-flung tourists to access the island without needing to make a connection.
Dominica is one of our Best Places to Go in North America & the Caribbean in 2024, part of our global guide to the Best Places to Go in 2024—find more travel inspiration here.
Western Sydney, Australia
A second airport in Australia’s capital is set to bring a host of advantages when it starts operations in 2026. The Western Sydney airport, also called Nancy-Bird Walton airport, is currently being constructed further inland from Sydney’s current airport. For locals who live farther on the outskirts, that means not having to trek all the way into eastern Sydney to catch your flight. For visitors, the airport’s location on the western edge of the city will be an ideal gateway for travelers wanting to explore the nearby Blue Mountains National Park, known for its striking cliffs, waterfalls, and unique sandstone formations. Plus, it could mean less crowded airport spaces, too. The facility on the opposite side of the city will also take some capacity pressure off of the current Sydney airport: Western Sydney airport will be able to handle 10 million passengers a year when it launches.
