Linate Airport

Linate Airport
source
Name	Linate Airport
IATA	LIN
ICAO	LIML
Owner	SEA Aeroporti di Milano
City-served	Milan
Location	Segrate, Italy
Opened	1937
Hub	ITA Airways
Elevation-m	108
Coordinates	45, 27, 39, N...

Linate Airport. Officially known as Milano Linate, it is one of the three major international airports serving the Metropolitan City of Milan, alongside Malpensa Airport and Orio al Serio International Airport. Located in the municipality of Segrate, approximately 7 kilometers east of central Milan, it primarily handles short-haul domestic and European flights, functioning as a key hub for ITA Airways and a focus city for several other carriers. Its proximity to the city center makes it a vital gateway for business travel within the European Union.

History

The airport's origins trace back to the 1930s, constructed to replace the older Taliedo Airport as Milan's primary airfield. Officially inaugurated in 1937, it was originally named after Enrico Forlanini, a pioneering Italian aeronautical engineer. Its strategic importance grew significantly during the post-war economic boom, facilitating Italy's integration into the burgeoning European air travel network. A major redevelopment was completed in the late 1990s, which included a new terminal and runway upgrades, ahead of its role during the Expo 2015 world's fair held in Milan. The airport's operations have historically been intertwined with the fortunes of Italy's national carriers, notably Alitalia, and now its successor, ITA Airways.

Facilities

The airport features a single, modern passenger terminal with three main piers, efficiently consolidating all operations under one roof. It is equipped with 24 boarding gates and a dedicated business aviation terminal, known as the General Aviation Terminal, catering to private flights. Key amenities within the main building include a variety of retail outlets, restaurants, and executive lounges operated by airlines such as ITA Airways and SkyTeam. The airfield itself has a primary runway, 18/36, which is 2,442 meters long and equipped with an Instrument Landing System for all-weather operations. Cargo facilities are limited, with freight operations primarily handled at the larger Malpensa Airport.

Airlines and destinations

Linate serves as a concentrated hub for domestic and Schengen-area traffic, hosting a roster of scheduled carriers. The dominant airline is ITA Airways, which operates numerous flights to major Italian cities like Rome, Naples, and Catania, as well as key European capitals including Paris, Brussels, and Frankfurt. Other significant operators include the low-cost carrier Volotea, and regional airlines such as Air Dolomiti and Danish Air Transport. International services are also provided by carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, and British Airways, connecting Milan to their respective hubs at Paris, Munich, and London.

Ground transportation

The airport is exceptionally well-connected to central Milan due to its urban location. The primary public transport link is the ATM operated bus line 73, which provides a direct connection to the Milan Metro system at San Babila station. Additionally, the Airport Bus Express service offers a faster link to Milano Centrale railway station, a major national rail hub served by Trenitalia and Italo high-speed trains. Taxis and ride-sharing services are readily available, and the airport offers extensive short and long-term parking facilities. The nearby Tangenziale Est ring road provides swift access to the A1 motorway, connecting to Bologna, Florence, and Rome.

Accidents and incidents

The airport's history was tragically marked by the Linate Airport disaster on 8 October 2001, one of the deadliest aviation accidents in Italian history. A Scandinavian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-87 collided on the runway with a Cessna Citation business jet in heavy fog, resulting in 118 fatalities. This catastrophe led to major reforms in Italian air traffic control procedures and airport ground movement safety. Another significant incident occurred in 2006 when an Air Dolomiti ATR 72 skidded off the runway during landing in snowy conditions, though without serious injuries. These events have profoundly influenced operational safety protocols at the airport and within the Italian Civil Aviation Authority.

Category:Airports in Italy Category:Transport in Milan Category:1937 establishments in Italy