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Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) – Passport Control and Bus Connection Timing Question

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Hello everyone!

Looking for advice on passport control time at Bologna Airport for a late evening arrival.

My flight arrives at Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ) at 20:45. According to multiple sources, this flight has an over 94% on-time arrival rate, and the take-off punctuality is over 85%. I've booked a ticket on the Apennino Shuttle bus departing from the Bologna Airport bus stop at 22:00, with the pickup point just 60 metres from the airport entrance, heading to Florence Piazzale Montelungo.

Other options included taking the train or a taxi to Bologna Central Station and then onward buses to Florence, but these were more expensive and would mean arriving in Florence past 1 or 2 am. The direct bus option gets me to Florence at about 23:20, which is ideal.

My concern is that this bus is the last direct departure from the airport to Florence that night. I understand passport control and customs at Bologna Airport could take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes. With my arrival time, I estimate getting through by 21:30 to 21:45, leaving enough time for the bus.

Since I’m traveling with backpack only, I won’t need to wait for luggage claim, which should speed up the process. However, I know delays can occur if several flights arrive simultaneously and lines form at passport control.

Does anyone have experience with passport/customs processing times at Bologna Airport around this time of day? How long did it take you to get through? Any tips to ensure I catch the 22:00 bus would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any insights!

Posted by
1654 posts

I've only been through Bologna late once but the airport was a ghost town except for the people getting off the plane. Even the stores in the airport were generally closed. So the bad news is that if you were hoping to use airport services you're probably out of luck but if you're first to the counter while others wait for luggage immigration will probably be pretty quick unless there are flights that land at the same time.

As I recall the signage in Bologna is not super clear - or maybe that's having been up for 24+ hours. But it made a difference because the right line was fast and the other lines were for people who apparently needed to argue their case with Italian immigration. Last time I went through it was still walking up and talking to someone with no automated scanners or checkpoints.

And the airport is small so once you're through immigration and walk through the "nothing to declare" doorway you're essentially on the curb in a couple of minutes.

Obviously you can't control anything about your flight and the time but I think you've got a decent shot at making it without running. But it never hurts to have a back-up plan for transportation in Italy.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

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