BDS · A single-terminal Salento airport that surveyed well in 2025, with short security and a real bus into town, held back by no rail link and one 22-seat lounge.
BRI · Puglia’s main civil gateway: one clear terminal, a €5.30 / ~15–17′ rail link to Bari Centrale, €5 Fast Track, and a Work Lounge that now takes Priority Pass as well as the €25 AdP day pass — classic 100 ml security.
15% · Food and retail quality and variety.
BDS6.0
BRI6.7+0.7
Ground access
15% · Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
BDS5.4
BRI8.6+3.2
Reliability
15% · Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
BDS6.8
BRI7.2+0.4
Lounges
10% · Worth-it density and access quality.
BDS5.2
BRI6.9+1.7
BRI
Travellers who will use the Ferrotramviaria airport train to Bari CentraleRyanair / leisure arrivals exploring Puglia without connecting via FCO/MXPPassengers happy to pay €5 Fast Track or €25 Work Lounge on peak banksFixed-fare taxi users heading to Centrale, the port, or Stadio San Nicola
BRI
Classic 100 ml LAG rules — BRI is not on ENAC’s temporary CT >100 ml listVIP Lounge closed (from 16 April); Work Lounge is the replacement productSummer LCC banks still congest bag drop and the main security hallDo not confuse Bari (BRI) with Brindisi (BDS) or Taranto-Grottaglie (TAR)
Sandrino and airside restaurants
PRM assistance
ENAV strike on 30 September 2026
AdP is warning of a four-hour national ENAV strike from 13:00 to 17:00 on Wednesday 30 September 2026. Flights may be delayed, changed, or cancelled.
EES is live for non-EU arrivals
Since 20 October 2025 the EU Entry/Exit System has been operating at Brindisi. The airport says the first phase covers arriving non-EU passengers only.
Fast Track is a side door, not a private scanner
The €5 Fast Track uses a separate entrance into the area before the filters. Aeroporti di Puglia says it does not give you a dedicated X-ray lane.
BRI
Airport rail to Bari CentraleFast Track (€5)Work Lounge (paid)AdP_FreeWifiTerminal cafés & retailFixed-band airport taxis
Rail €5.30 / ~15–17′ beats almost every other option
FNB rail €5.30 / ~15–17′ to Centrale; Pay and Go contactless works; taxi Centrale is a posted band (~€23–€25).
Pack 100 ml — Fast Track is only €5 when banks stack
Classic 100 ml LAGs; Fast Track €5; Work Lounge €25 bundles Fast Track.
Work Lounge takes Priority Pass and a €25 day pass
Work Lounge 05:00–23:00: Priority Pass / LoungeKey / Amex finder plus €25 day pass (Fast Track included); VIP Lounge closed.
