Milan Malpensa Airport

Milan Malpensa Airport
Name	Milan Malpensa Airport
Nativename	Aeroporto di Milano‑Malpensa
Iata	MXP
Icao	LIMC
Type	Public
Owner	SEA SpA
City-served	Milan, Lombardy
Location	Somma Lombardo, Busto Arsizio, Cardano al Campo
Elevation-ft	753
Elevation-m	230
Coordinates	45°37′N 08°42′E
Runway1	17R/35L
Runway1-length-m	3,900
Runway2	17L/35R
Runway2-length-m	3,920

Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest international airport in Milan and the second‑busiest airport in Italy after Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport. Situated in Lombardy, it serves as a hub for major carriers and as a gateway to northern Italy for passengers bound for Lake Como, Milan Cathedral, Genoa and the Alps. The airport is operated by SEA SpA and connects to intercontinental routes, European services, and cargo operations serving logistics centers like Cargolux and DHL Aviation.

History

Malpensa opened as an airfield in the early 20th century near Varese and saw military use during World War I and World War II. Postwar civil aviation expansion mirrored growth at Heathrow Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport, prompting runway extensions and terminal construction in the 1950s and 1960s to handle carriers such as Alitalia and British Airways. The 1990s brought liberalization linked to the European Union aviation market and the rise of low‑cost carriers like Ryanair and easyJet, which reshaped route networks previously dominated by flag carriers such as Air France and Lufthansa. Major redevelopment for Expo 2015 and the expansion of international long‑haul services followed investments similar to projects at Schiphol Airport and Frankfurt Airport. Throughout the 2000s, disputes over slot allocation involved regulators from ENAC and influenced partnerships with global alliances like Star Alliance, Oneworld and SkyTeam.

Facilities and Infrastructure

The airport complex includes two parallel runways and cargo aprons used by companies such as UPS Airlines, FedEx Express, and Cargolux. Air traffic control is coordinated with the ENAV network and is linked to nearby military aerodromes like Bresso Airfield. Groundside infrastructure features maintenance hangars used by firms including Lufthansa Technik and SR Technics, plus fuel farms supplied by ENI. Security and border controls coordinate with agencies including Polizia di Stato and Guardia di Finanza. The site contains business lounges operated by carriers like Emirates and Qatar Airways and retail outlets including boutiques associated with Prada, Armani, Gucci and food services linked to Autogrill.

Terminals

Terminal 1 houses Schengen and non‑Schengen operations and hosts legacy carriers such as Alitalia (now part of ITA Airways), British Airways, Lufthansa and alliances like Star Alliance. Terminal 2 originally served low‑cost operators and has handled seasonal charters from TUI Airways, tour operators like Thomas Cook Group (historically) and leisure airlines such as Neos Air. The terminals offer passenger services comparable to those at Munich Airport and Zurich Airport, with interterminal shuttle links, baggage systems supplied by firms like Siemens and passenger flow management influenced by standards from IATA and ICAO.

Airlines and Destinations

Malpensa hosts a mix of full‑service and low‑cost carriers. Long‑haul carriers include Emirates, Delta Air Lines, Air Canada, American Airlines (historically), Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines (seasonally). European networks include easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling, Eurowings, SAS, Aegean Airlines, Iberia, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines. Cargo operators and integrators include FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, Cargolux, Korean Air Cargo and Cathay Pacific Cargo, linking to freight flows involving Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Dubai International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Frankfurt Airport and Hong Kong International Airport.

Ground Transportation

Rail connections include the dedicated Malpensa Express service linking terminals to Milano Centrale, with operator ties to Trenitalia and regional services similar to TGV‑linked airport rails. Road access uses the A8 motorway and motorways toward Torino and Brescia, with shuttle coaches operated by firms such as Terravision and Autostradale. Car rental companies present include Avis, Hertz, Europcar and Sixt; parking operators follow models used at Heathrow and Schiphol. Cross‑border coach services connect to Geneva and Zurich, and taxi services coordinate with municipal authorities in Milan and provincial prefectures.

Statistics and Operations

Passenger traffic has fluctuated with global events, reflecting trends observed at Istanbul Airport and Barcelona–El Prat Airport. Before the COVID‑19 pandemic, annual passenger numbers placed the airport among the top in Europe; cargo tonnage grew in parallel with e‑commerce increases seen at hubs like Liege Airport and Memphis International Airport. Operational metrics include slot coordination regulated by ACI Europe guidelines, noise abatement procedures influenced by ICAO and environmental monitoring comparable to programs at Vienna International Airport.

Incidents and Accidents

Notable events include aircraft incidents during approach and ground operations analogous to investigations by ANSV and reporting by ENAC. Historical occurrences involved emergency responses coordinated with Agenzia Regionale Emergenza Urgenza and investigations referencing standards from EASA and ICAO. Safety improvements were implemented following reviews similar to those after incidents at Gatwick Airport and Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Category:Airports in Italy Category:Buildings and structures in Lombardy