Milan's Dual Airport System: A Travel Guide

Milan, Italy, is served by three airports: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Malpensa is the largest airport in the metropolitan area of Milan, located 50 kilometres from the city centre. Linate is the second-largest airport in Milan, located just 7 kilometres from the city. Bergamo is the furthest from the city centre, located 45 kilometres northeast of Milan.

Malpensa Airport (MXP)

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is one of three airports serving Milan, Italy. Located in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno in the province of Varese, Malpensa is Milan's largest airport, handling the most long-haul international flights. It is also Italy's second-busiest airport in terms of passengers served, with 26 million travellers passing through in 2023 and just under 29 million in 2019. All flights from the United States to Milan arrive into Malpensa, which serves as a hub for British low-cost carrier EasyJet.

Malpensa Airport is situated approximately 32 miles (52 kilometres) from central Milan. Transport links to and from the airport are plentiful. Travellers can take advantage of the airport's proximity to the A4 and A8 highways by travelling to and from the airport by car. There are also six parking lots with a total of 10,000 spaces. For those not travelling by car, there are several other options. The airport has a train station with trains departing every 30 minutes to Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna, two of Milan's major train stations. There are also buses (both public and private) and shuttles offering direct service from the airport to various points in Milan.

Malpensa Airport has two terminals. T2 is used exclusively by EasyJet, while all other flights to and from Milan go through T1. A frequent terminal shuttle runs every 7 minutes during the daytime and every 30 minutes from 10:45 pm to 5:00 am. It takes approximately 15 minutes to get from one terminal to the other.

The airport offers all the amenities typical of a large facility, including ATMs, currency exchange facilities, luggage storage, a pharmacy, and travel agencies. Travellers will also find a wide selection of cafes, restaurants, and brand-name stores. For those accustomed to premium standards, there are several elegant VIP lounges and a concierge service. The airport also features Sheraton and Moxy hotels and a conference room. For those facing a long layover or an overnight stay, Malpensa Airport offers private sleeping cabins for rent.

Linate Airport (LIN)

Linate Airport is the fifth busiest airport in Italy, serving around 9.5 million passengers per year. It is the third busiest in the Milan metropolitan area, after Malpensa and Bergamo. The airport was built in the 1930s, next to the Idroscalo of Milan, when the Taliedo Airport became too small for commercial traffic. It was rebuilt in the 1950s and again in the 1980s. In 2023, it was named Europe's Best Airport in the 5-10 Million Passenger category by the Airport Council International.

The airport has one three-story terminal building, with check-in and baggage reclaim on the ground floor, the main departure area on the first floor, and office space on the second floor. The terminal has five aircraft stands, all equipped with jet bridges, and several more parking positions on the apron.

Around 15 carriers operate from Linate Airport, including Alitalia and Alitalia CityLiner, which have designated it a focus city. Most flights are domestic or to other European destinations.

Ground transportation options include taxis, public buses, coaches, limousines, and shared-ride shuttles. The Milan Metro Line 4 connects the airport to the city centre in about 15 minutes. The Linate Shuttle service also runs buses to Milano Centrale every half hour, with a journey time of 25 minutes.

Bergamo Airport (BGY)

Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio International Airport or Milan Bergamo Airport for commercial purposes, is located in Orio al Serio, 3.7 km (2.3 mi) southeast of Bergamo and 45 km (28-31 mi) northeast of Milan. It is one of three airports that service Milan and is the third busiest airport in Italy, serving over 13 million passengers a year. The airport is named after the Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, who hailed from the nearby town of Caravaggio.

The airport is located in one of the busiest and biggest industrial zones in Italy, Lombardy, and is easily accessible by bus, taxi, car, or train. The nearest railway station is Bergamo railway station, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) away, with a 10-minute bus service connecting it to the airport. There are also several car rental companies operating out of the airport, including Avis, Autoeuropa, and Europcar.

Bergamo Airport has one passenger terminal, with two jet-bridge gates. The terminal is split into two zones, A (Gates A1-A15) and B (Gates B1-B5). The airport has two runways, with the main one measuring 2,874 by 24 meters and the tourist runway measuring 778 by 18 meters. The runways have a capacity of 26 movements per hour, with 16 landings per hour.

The airport offers a range of facilities, including shops, restaurants, banks, and ATMs. It is also conscious of accessibility, with ramps for wheelchair users and relief paths to aid visually impaired individuals. There is also a dedicated office for tourists, offering free information and promotional materials for the Bergamo Province.

Bergamo Airport is a busy hub for flights within Europe and the UK, with budget carrier Ryanair using it as a hub. The airport served almost 13 million passengers in 2018 and is one of Ryanair's three largest operating bases, along with Dublin and London Stansted airports.

Bresso Airport

Milan, Italy, is served by three airports: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. However, there is also a fourth, smaller airfield in the area: Bresso Airport.

The airport has a specific set of operating flight procedures, including traffic patterns, take-off and departure procedures, and approach and landing protocols. These procedures ensure the safe and efficient management of air traffic in and around the airport.

Malpensa International Airport vs Linate Airport

Milan is served by three airports: Malpensa International Airport, Linate Airport, and Bergamo Airport. Malpensa is the largest and handles the most long-haul international flights. Linate is the closest to the city centre and serves mostly domestic flights and a few flights from within the EU.

Malpensa International Airport (MXP)

Malpensa Airport is located in Ferno, a suburb around 32 miles (52 kilometres) northwest of Milan. It is Milan's largest airport, with 26 million passengers passing through in 2023, making it the second-busiest airport in Italy. All flights from the US to Milan arrive at Malpensa, and it is also a hub for British low-cost carrier EasyJet. The airport has two terminals; T2 is used exclusively by EasyJet, and all other flights use T1.

Malpensa is around 32 miles (52 kilometres) from central Milan, and can be reached by public transport or taxi. The taxi fare to Milan's main train station is set at 110 euros and takes around 40 minutes without traffic. There are also regional trains operated by Trenord that run every half hour from Malpensa to Milano Centrale, costing 14 euros. There are also trains every 30 minutes to Milano Cadorna, a smaller train station in the centre of Milan, which also costs 14 euros. There are also buses and shuttles offering direct service from the airport to various points in Milan.

Linate Airport (LIN)

Linate Airport is the closest airport to Milan, situated just 5 miles (8 kilometres) southeast of the city centre. It is notably named Airport Enrico Forlanini after the Italian inventor and aviation pioneer. Despite its proximity, Linate Airport records the fewest passengers among the three international airports, with around 9.5 million passengers annually. Linate Airport primarily facilitates domestic flights and a small number of flights from other European Union countries.

Milan's local urban buses, 73 and X73, provide a budget-friendly connection between the airport and San Babila metro station. Bus 73 operates daily, departing every 10 minutes, while Bus X73 runs every 20 minutes from Monday to Friday. These buses offer economical travel, but there is an additional fee for purchasing tickets on board. There are also private bus services, such as Starfly and Air Bus, which cost a little more but are still affordable. The cheapest option is the bus, which takes around 25 minutes and costs 1.5 euros. A taxi to Milan's main train station will take 15-30 minutes, depending on traffic, and costs around 40 euros.

Frequently asked questions