Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), located on the eastern coast of Sicily, has reached an important milestone with the selection, at the end of July 2026, of 10 leading international airport operators and infrastructure investors for the second stage of the competitive process to acquire a majority stake in SAC S.p.A., the company that operates the gateway.

The transaction has attracted strong international interest and is one of the most significant airport privatizations currently taking place in Europe. CTA is Italy's sixth busiest airport and the island’s main international gateway. It serves the metropolitan area of Catania, the capital city, and the surrounding provinces, providing direct access to major tourist destinations such as Mount Etna, Taormina, Syracuse and the south-eastern coast of Sicily.

Together with nearby Comiso Airport (CIY), also operated by SAC, the airport system handled almost 13 million passengers in 2025, with Catania accounting for almost all of the traffic. Since 2016, passenger traffic at CTA has grown by an average of around 5% per year, increasing from 7.9 million to 12.4 million passengers. This strong uplift—driven by international tourism, the expansion of low-cost airlines and improved European connectivity—largely explains the strong interest shown today by major international airport operators.

The Hunt for a Strategic Partner

The opening up of SAC is the result of a process that started several years ago. An important step was taken in 2022, when Mediobanca was appointed as financial adviser to study the capital opening and identify a strategic partner. In March 2025, the public shareholders approved the privatization plan, and in April 2026 the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure officially approved a framework.

The objective is to strengthen the competitiveness of eastern Sicily's airport system. Beyond the sale of public shares, the aim is to bring in an experienced airport operator able to support future traffic growth, accelerate investment, introduce international best practices and, at the same time, maintain an important role for the public shareholders in the company's governance.

The privatization process was officially launched in May 2026 through an international tender for the sale of at least 51%of SAC's share capital, with the possibility of increasing the stake to 66%, depending on the outcome of the competitive process. The transaction is being carried out through a structured multi-stage procedure, supported by international financial and legal advisers.

A total of 14 expressions of interest (EOIs) were received from airport operators and infrastructure investors from Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America, confirming the attractiveness of the Sicilian airport market and the long-term growth potential of Catania Airport.

Ten Global Operators in the Frame

Following the pre-qualification stage, 10 candidates were invited to submit non-binding offers. The shortlist included Adani Airport Holdings, Corporación América Airports, F2i Aeroporti, Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund, MAG Overseas Investment Ltd, Mundys, Oman Airports Management Company, Royal Schiphol Group, SAVE, and Vinci Airports.

Although SAC has not officially disclosed its valuation, the Italian financial press estimates it at between €500 million and €600 million, implying a value of between €255 million and €400 million for the stake being sold, depending on the final percentage offered. Some local public shareholders believe the company's long-term value could exceed €1 billion, given expected traffic growth and the major investment program planned for the coming years.

Beyond the change in ownership, the transaction is expected to provide the financial resources and operational expertise needed for the airport's next phase of development. Future investments are expected to include terminal expansion, improvements to the passenger experience, higher operational efficiency, environmental initiatives, and the further development of commercial activities.

If the current timetable is maintained, binding offers will roll in by autumn 2026, with the preferred strategic investor likely to be selected before the end of the year, subject to final negotiations and regulatory approvals.

The arrival of a leading international airport operator would represent a major milestone in the development of Sicily’s main airport, combining public ownership with private-sector expertise to strengthen Catania Airport’s position as one of the leading gateways in the Mediterranean.