Milan Airport Incident: What Really Happened?

Milan has several airports, including Malpensa Airport, which is an international airport in Ferno, in the Province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy. It is the largest airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. Another airport in Milan is Linate Airport, which is just 11km (6.8mi) east of Milan's city centre. A third airport is Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio, serving the Italian city of Bergamo, which is a one-hour drive from Milan Malpensa Airport. In January 2025, strikes were expected to cause disruptions at Linate, Malpensa, and Venice airports. In October 2024, all flights scheduled to depart from or land at Bergamo's airport on a particular day were delayed, diverted, or cancelled after a Ryanair plane's tyres exploded upon landing, causing damage to the runway.

Milan Malpensa Airport is an intercontinental airport in Italy

Milan Malpensa Airport has a long history of aviation activities, dating back to 1909 when Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni opened the site to test their aircraft prototypes. In 1910, the Caproni brothers flew their "flying machine", the Cal biplane, from the same location. Over the years, the site evolved from a farming patch to a formal airfield, with Gianni Caproni and Giovanni Agusta establishing factories and transforming it into Italy's largest aircraft production centre. During the 1920s and 1930s, the airfield accommodated two squadrons of the Regia Aeronautica Italiana (Italian Air Force).

In September 1943, during World War II, the Malpensa airfield was seized by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe when Adolf Hitler invaded northern Italy. The Germans constructed the airfield's first concrete runway during their occupation. After the war, the site was restored by manufacturers and politicians from the Milan and Varese regions, aiming to make it a pivotal part of Italy's post-war recovery. The main runway was rebuilt and extended, and a small wooden terminal was constructed to protect passengers and goods from inclement weather.

Commercial operations at Milan Malpensa Airport commenced on 21 November 1948, and it has since become a significant hub for intercontinental travel. The airport boasts two passenger terminals, with Terminal 1 being the newer and larger of the two. Terminal 1 is divided into three sections: Concourse A handles domestic and intra-Schengen flights, Concourse B handles non-Schengen and intercontinental flights, and Concourse C (B2) caters to non-Schengen, intercontinental flights, and security-sensitive flights to the USA and Israel.

Milan Malpensa Airport is well-connected to Milan's city centre by efficient rail and road networks. The Malpensa Express train service offers a direct connection between the airport and the city, with a journey time ranging from 30 to 50 minutes. Additionally, the airport is accessible via the A8 and A4 motorways, providing convenient links to Switzerland, Turin, Verona, Venice, and Trieste.

It is located in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno in the province of Varese

Milan Malpensa Airport is located in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno, in the province of Varese, Italy. It is one of the two main international airports in Milan, the other being Linate Airport. Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. It is located 49 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Milan, next to the Ticino river, which divides Lombardy and Piedmont.

Malpensa Airport has a rich history of aviation activities, dating back to 1909 when Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni used the site to test their aircraft prototypes. In 1910, the Caproni brothers flew their "flying machine", the Cal biplane, from the same site. Over the years, the airfield developed into the largest aircraft production centre in Italy, with factories established by both Gianni Caproni and Giovanni Agusta. During the 1920s and 1930s, the airfield hosted two squadrons of the Italian Air Force.

In September 1943, the Malpensa airfield was taken over by Nazi Germany during the invasion of northern Italy, and they constructed the airfield's first concrete runway. After World War II, the airfield was restored by manufacturers and politicians from the Milan and Varese regions, with the aim of making it an industrial fulcrum for Italy's post-war recovery. The main runway was rebuilt and extended, and a small wooden terminal was constructed to protect goods and passengers from bad weather.

Malpensa Airport officially commenced commercial operations in November 1948, and it has since undergone several expansions and developments. It is now the busiest airport in Italy for freight and cargo, handling over 700,000 tons of international freight annually. The airport has two passenger terminals and is served by various transport options, including bus, train, and taxi services, providing connections to Milan's city centre and other destinations in Northern Italy.

It is the largest airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria and Ticino

Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and Ticino. It is located in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno in the province of Varese, 49 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Milan. The airport is situated next to the Ticino river, which divides Lombardy and Piedmont.

Malpensa Airport is a significant aviation hub, ranking 9th globally and 6th in Europe in terms of the number of countries served with direct scheduled flights. In 2022, it handled 21.3 million passengers, making it the 2nd busiest airport in Italy after Rome Fiumicino Airport. It is also the busiest airport in Italy for freight and cargo, handling 721,254 tons of international freight annually.

The history of aviation activities at Malpensa Airport dates back over 100 years. The site was first used for aircraft testing by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni in 1909, and it later became the largest aircraft production centre in Italy during the early 20th century. The airfield hosted the Italian Air Force squadrons during the 1920s and 1930s until it was taken over by the Nazi German Luftwaffe in 1943. After World War II, the airfield was restored and developed into a commercial airport, commencing operations in 1948.

Malpensa Airport has undergone expansions and upgrades over the years, including the construction of new terminals and the extension of runways. It has faced competition from Linate Airport, located closer to Milan's city centre, but remains a crucial gateway for international and intercontinental flights. The airport provides efficient connections to Milan's city centre through rail and road networks.

Together with Linate Airport and Bergamo Airport, Malpensa Airport forms the Milan airport system, serving over 42 million passengers in 2022 and making it the largest airport system in Italy by passenger volume.

The airport has two terminals and is located inside a nature reserve

Milan Malpensa Airport is located inside the Parco naturale lombardo della Valle del Ticino, a nature reserve included by UNESCO in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The airport has two terminals and is located 49 kilometres (30 mi) northwest of Milan, next to the Ticino river dividing Lombardy and Piedmont. It is the largest airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. The airport is accessible by a four-lane motorway to the A8 and by a five-lane motorway to the A4. Local access is provided by the State Road SS336 from Busto Arsizio and by the State Road SS336dir from Magenta.

Milan Malpensa Airport is an Italian intercontinental airport located in the municipalities of Somma Lombardo and Ferno in the province of Varese. It is one of three airports forming the Milan airport system, along with Linate Airport and Bergamo Airport. Together, these airports served 42.2 million passengers in 2022, making it the largest airport system in Italy by passenger number.

Milan Malpensa Airport has a rich history of aviation activities spanning over 100 years. The site was first used in 1909 by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni to test their aircraft prototypes, before transitioning to civil operations in 1948. The airport has undergone various developments and expansions over the years, including the addition of new terminals and the extension of runways.

The airport offers a range of services and facilities for passengers, including bars, restaurants, shopping areas, parking, and VIP lounges. It provides direct connections to Milan's city centre through the Malpensa Express train service and is well-connected to other major cities in Northern Italy through bus and train services.

Malpensa Airport is named after former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi

Milan's Malpensa Airport, the second-busiest airport in Italy, was renamed after former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The airport's full name is now International Airport Milan Malpensa — Silvio Berlusconi. Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and minister of infrastructure and transport, announced the change on social media, stating that officials from the Lombardy region, where the airport is based, had requested the change a year ago.

The decision to rename the airport after the late politician, who died in June of last year at the age of 86, has sparked controversy and anger among some Italians. Critics blasted the decision to honour Berlusconi, a divisive and controversial right-wing figure in Italian politics. He was tried on various charges throughout his career, including tax evasion, bribery, corruption, and having sex with an underage prostitute, with a 2012 conviction for tax evasion being the only case that stuck.

The Democratic Party, led by Pierfrancesco Majorino, opposed the renaming and suggested honouring Luca Attanasio, Italy’s ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, who was killed in 2021. They also questioned the timing of the decision, as Italian law states that a public place cannot be named after a person until at least 10 years after their death. Despite the backlash, Salvini confirmed the decision, expressing his pride and emotion in remembering his friend Silvio, a great entrepreneur, and a great Milanese and Italian.

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