Milan-Malpensa Airport

Milan-Malpensa Airport
Name	Milan-Malpensa Airport
IATA	MXP
ICAO	LIMC
Owner	SEA Aeroporti di Milano
City-served	Milan
Location	Ferno and Somma Lombardo, Province of Varese, Lombardy
Opened	1909 (as airfield)
Hub	ITA Airways, Ryanair
Elevation-m	234
Coordinates	45, 37, 48, N...
Website	https://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com

Milan-Malpensa Airport. It is the largest international airport in northern Italy and a major aviation gateway for the Milan metropolitan area and the broader Lombardy region. Owned and operated by SEA Aeroporti di Milano, the airport complex consists of two passenger terminals and extensive cargo facilities, functioning as a primary hub for ITA Airways and Ryanair. Strategically located near major industrial and financial centers, it plays a critical role in connecting Italy to global markets.

History

The site's aviation history began in 1909 when pioneers like Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni established an airfield for early aircraft manufacturing and testing. Following World War II, the airport was significantly expanded and officially inaugurated for commercial service in 1948. A major transformation occurred in the late 1990s with the opening of a new terminal and runway, designed to relieve congestion at Linate Airport and establish a rival hub to other major European airports like London Heathrow Airport and Frankfurt Airport. The airport's development has been closely tied to the fortunes of its anchor carriers, including the former national airline Alitalia and, later, Malév Hungarian Airlines.

Facilities

The airport operates two main passenger terminals: Terminal 1, which is the larger facility handling most major airlines, and Terminal 2, primarily used by Ryanair and other low-cost carriers. Its two parallel runways are capable of handling the largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380. The complex also includes one of Italy's most important cargo areas, the Malpensa Cargo City, which serves as a European freight hub for integrators like FedEx Express and DHL Aviation. Other notable facilities include the Malpensa Express railway station and extensive maintenance bases used by companies such as Lufthansa Technik.

Airlines and destinations

As a primary hub, the airport hosts a wide network of flights operated by legacy, low-cost, and cargo carriers. ITA Airways maintains a significant operational base here, offering numerous connections within Italy and to international destinations like New York-JFK, Tokyo-Narita, and São Paulo-Guarulhos. Ryanair utilizes the airport as a key base for its European network. Other major carriers include Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, and Delta Air Lines. Cargo operators feature Cargolux, UPS Airlines, and Turkish Cargo.

Statistics

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airport consistently ranked as the second-busiest in Italy by passenger traffic after Rome–Fiumicino International Airport, often handling over 20 million passengers annually. It is the busiest airport in Italy for cargo traffic, regularly processing more than 500,000 tonnes of freight per year, a critical metric for the Lombardy region's export economy. Major country markets include Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The airport's traffic figures are published by Assaeroporti, the Italian airport association.

Ground transportation

The airport is well-connected to Milan and beyond via multiple transport modes. The dedicated Malpensa Express train service provides direct links to Milano Centrale railway station and Milano Cadorna railway station. Several bus companies, including Autostradale and Terravision, offer coach services to locations like Linate Airport, Milano Centrale railway station, and Turin. An extensive network of motorways, including the A8 and the A4, connects the airport to the Italian highway system. Taxi and rental car services from providers like Hertz and Avis are also widely available.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has experienced several notable aviation incidents. In 1969, an Alitalia Douglas DC-8 crashed on approach during a training flight, resulting in fatalities. A significant accident occurred in 2001 when Scandinavian Airlines Flight 686, a McDonnell Douglas MD-87, collided with a Cessna Citation business jet shortly after takeoff, crashing into an airport building; the accident, which occurred in heavy fog, led to reforms in Italian air traffic control. In 2013, a Turkish Airlines Boeing 737-800 overran the runway after a hard landing, though there were no serious injuries.

Category:Airports in Italy Category:Transport in Lombardy Category:Buildings and structures in the Province of Varese