Milan Airport's Expansive Reach: How Big Is It?

Milan has three international airports: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in Milan, located about 32 miles (52 kilometres) from the city. It is also the busiest airport in Italy for freight and cargo, handling over 730,000 tons of international freight annually. Linate Airport is the second-largest airport in Milan, located just 7 kilometres from the city centre. Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio International Airport, is situated 45 kilometres northeast of Milan and is the furthest from the city centre among the three airports.

Malpensa Airport is Milan's largest airport

Malpensa Airport has a rich history of aviation activities, dating back to 27 May 1910, when the Caproni brothers first flew their "flying machine", the Cal biplane. Over the years, the site has been used for testing aircraft prototypes, and it eventually became the largest aircraft production centre in Italy. The airport officially commenced commercial operations in November 1948, and in 1952, the Municipality of Milan took control of the airport's operator, with the goal of developing Malpensa as an international and intercontinental gateway.

Malpensa Airport features two terminals, with Terminal 1 being the newer, larger, and more prominent of the two. Terminal 1 covers an area of 262,300 square metres and includes 256 check-in counters, 65 boarding gates, 20 airbridges, and satellites at both ends. It also has a railway station and can handle 22 million passengers annually, catering to domestic, international, and charter flights. Terminal 2, on the other hand, covers an area of 55,000 square metres, with 57 check-in counters, 28 boarding gates, and a satellite. It serves low-cost carriers like EasyJet and has a capacity of six million passengers per year.

The airport has undergone various expansion projects over the years, including the construction of new terminals and the extension of its runways to accommodate more flights and passengers. In 2009, an expansion programme was announced to increase passenger handling capacity to 42 million by 2015, which included the construction of a third satellite, runway, and terminal. Efficient rail links and motorway improvements have also been implemented to improve access to the airport from Milan's city centre.

Linate Airport is the closest to the city centre

Milan has three airports that connect the city with the rest of the world: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Of these, Linate Airport is the closest to the city centre, located only 7 kilometres (4 miles) away. The airport is situated in the Segrate Municipality, with the field in the Peschiera Borromeo Municipality. Linate Airport is Milan's second-largest airport and mainly serves domestic flights within Italy and the EU or the UK.

To get to the city centre from Linate Airport, you can take the M4 metro line, which goes directly to the airport. The metro ride takes around 15 minutes, with the line running from 6 am to 12:30 am. The M4 line has seven stops to the centre of Milan, including Tricolore, Dateo, Susa, and San Babila, where you can switch to the M1 line. Single metro tickets cost €2.40, and you can purchase them at a kiosk in the metro station or via contactless payment.

Another option is to take a bus to the city centre. The STARfly or Airport Bus Express by Autostradale runs every hour from 8:30 am to 9:30 pm, taking 25 minutes to reach Milan Central Station. Tickets for this bus cost €7 for a single and €12 for a return, and they can be purchased at the airport or online.

If you prefer a taxi, the ride from the airport to the city centre takes around 25 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic, and costs approximately €50-€60. There is no fixed rate for taxis from Linate Airport, so the price may vary.

Finally, you can also take a train to the city centre, although the route is not direct. You would need to take the S9 metro line to Milan Forlanini and then catch a Trenord Suburban Line train to Milano Porta Garibaldi in central Milan. This journey will take around 40 minutes in total.

Bergamo Airport is Milan's second airport

Milan has three international airports: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in Milan and the second busiest airport in Italy, with more than 24 million passengers in 2018. Linate Airport is the second-largest airport in Milan, serving more than 9 million passengers annually. Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio International Airport or Il Caravaggio International Airport, is Milan's second airport. It is located 45 kilometres northeast of Milan and served as a hub for budget carrier Ryanair, serving around 15 million passengers annually.

Bergamo Airport is well-equipped with shops, restaurants, and services. The single terminal at Bergamo Airport spans approximately 36,000 square metres across two floors, handling all the airport's traffic. The ground floor handles arrivals, transportation, and many services, while the first floor handles departures and most shops. The airport offers transportation options to Milan's city centre and beyond, including bus and taxi services.

While Bergamo Airport is relatively small compared to Malpensa Airport, it is the third busiest airport in Italy due to the high number of low-cost flights. It is easily accessible by a 15-minute bus ride to Bergamo Train Station, with buses departing every 20 minutes and trains to Milan departing every 30 minutes. The airport bus express takes approximately one hour to reach Milan Central Station.

Bergamo Airport is a great choice for travellers on a budget, with low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, easyJet, and Wizz Air offering regular flights to and from the airport. It is important to note that Bergamo Airport is the furthest airport from Milan's city centre, so the journey time is longer compared to Malpensa or Linate airports.

Milan is Italy's second busiest city for airline traffic

Milan is a major transport hub in Italy, with three international airports: Malpensa, Linate, and Bergamo. Malpensa Airport, located 49 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Milan, is the largest airport in northern Italy and the second-busiest airport in the country, handling over 24 million passengers in 2018 and 26 million in 2023. It is also the busiest airport in Italy for freight and cargo, handling over 730,000 tons of international freight annually. The airport has two terminals and is served by two train stations, making it easy for passengers to reach central Milan via train or airport bus.

Milan Linate Airport, located just 7 kilometres from Milan's centre, is the second-largest airport in Milan, serving over 9 million passengers annually. Linate offers regular international and domestic flights and is the closest airport to the city, making it a popular choice for business travellers flying to and from Rome. However, it does not have a train station, and passengers must rely on public transportation or the Linate airport shuttle to get to the city centre.

Bergamo Airport, also known as Orio al Serio International Airport or Il Caravaggio International Airport, is Milan's second airport and the third busiest in Italy, serving over 11 million passengers annually. It is located 45 kilometres northeast of Milan and is a popular choice for those travelling on a budget, with low-cost airlines offering regular flights to and from the airport. While Bergamo is not as close to Milan as Linate, it still has good connections to the city centre via airport buses and public transportation.

Together, these three airports form the Milan airport system, which handled 56.9 million passengers in 2024, making it the largest airport system in Italy by passenger volume. The efficient transportation links to and from these airports, including regional trains, buses, and shuttles, make Milan the second busiest Italian city for airline traffic, with more than 46 million annual passengers.

Malpensa Airport is 9th in the world for countries served with direct flights

Milan Malpensa Airport, located about 49 kilometres (30 miles) northwest of Milan, is the largest airport in northern Italy. It is the primary and busiest airport in Milan, serving Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, and the Swiss canton of Ticino. The airport is situated inside the Parco Naturale Lombardo Della Valle Del Ticino, a nature reserve included in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Malpensa Airport is ninth in the world and sixth in Europe for countries served with direct flights. In 2024, the airport handled 28.5 million passengers, making it the 22nd busiest airport in Europe and the second busiest in Italy after Rome Fiumicino Airport. Malpensa is also the busiest airport in Italy for freight and cargo, handling over 730,000 tons of international freight annually. Together with Milan Bergamo Airport and Milan Linate Airport, Malpensa forms the Milan airport system, which served a total of 56.9 million passengers in 2024, making it the largest airport system in Italy by passenger volume.

The 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 successfully flew their "flying machine," the Cal biplane. Over the years, the site evolved into the largest aircraft production centre in Italy. In 1952, the Municipality of Milan took control of the airport's operations, with a vision to develop Malpensa as an international and intercontinental gateway.

Malpensa Airport has two passenger terminals with efficient transportation connections to Milan's city centre. Terminal 1, which opened in 1998, is the newer, larger, and more prominent terminal. It covers an area of 262,300 square metres and includes a train station. Terminal 2, located 808 metres from Terminal 1, is connected by free airport shuttle buses and trains. The airport offers smooth rail and road access, with direct train connections to Milan's central stations, including Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna.

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