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Milan Malpensa International Airport

Ferno (VA), Italy

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Milan Malpensa International Airport

Ferno (VA), Italy

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192

Routes out

107

Destinations

LIMC

ICAO

768 ft

Elevation

TravelerPulse profile

Northern Italy's primary international gateway near Milan.

Opened

1948

Location

Ferno (VA), Italy

Milan Malpensa International Airport is the largest airport in northern Italy and the second busiest in the country by passenger traffic, serving the Milan metropolitan area and the broader Lombardy region. Located approximately 49 kilometres northwest of Milan city centre near the town of Ferno in the Province of Varese, it handles tens of millions of passengers annually and serves as a key hub for intercontinental routes. The airport operates two passenger terminals: Terminal 1, which handles the majority of international and long-haul flights, and Terminal 2, primarily used by low-cost carriers including Wizz Air. A dedicated cargo terminal makes Malpensa one of Italy's most important freight hubs as well. Malpensa has historically served as the main hub for Alitalia and its successor ITA Airways, and continues to attract major European and intercontinental carriers. Its strategic location makes it a critical node for both business and leisure travel across northern Italy and neighbouring Switzerland.

Terminals

The airport has two passenger terminals: Terminal 1 for full-service and long-haul carriers and Terminal 2 primarily for low-cost airlines, connected by a shuttle bus.

Getting to & from

Malpensa is connected to Milan city centre by the Malpensa Express rail service linking to Milano Centrale and Porta Garibaldi stations, as well as coach services and taxis.

Airlines here

ITA Airways uses Malpensa as a key hub, alongside major carriers such as Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, Air France, and low-cost operators including Wizz Air and easyJet.

Notable facts

›Malpensa is the second busiest airport in Italy by passenger volume, after Rome Fiumicino.
›The airport handled over 24 million passengers in 2023 as traffic recovered post-pandemic.
›It serves as a major cargo hub, ranking among Italy's top airports for freight volume.
›Terminal 2 was originally built for low-cost carriers and opened in 2007.
›The airport sits near the Ticino river valley and the border with the Swiss canton of Ticino.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Northern Italy's grand gateway where Alpine air meets global ambition

Milan Malpensa International Airport, located in Ferno in the province of Varese, is Italy's largest intercontinental hub and the primary long-haul gateway to the Lombardy region. Originally developed as a military airfield in the early 20th century, it was transformed into a major commercial airport in the 1990s with the opening of Terminal 1 in 1998. Serving tens of millions of passengers annually, Malpensa connects Milan and northern Italy to destinations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

Terminals

Terminal 1 — The main international terminal handling the majority of intercontinental and European flights, home to most full-service carriers including ITA Airways.
Terminal 2 — A dedicated terminal primarily used by low-cost carriers, notably easyJet, offering a more compact and streamlined passenger experience.

Ground Transport

Malpensa Express train to Milano Centrale and Milano Cadorna stations (approx. 50 minutes)
Malpensa Shuttle bus service connecting to Milan city centre
FlixBus and other coach services to Milan and surrounding cities
Licensed metered taxis available at designated ranks outside both terminals
Car rental desks from major providers including Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Sixt
Rideshare and private transfer services bookable in advance

Nearby Hotels

Sheraton Milan Malpensa Airport Hotel & Conference Centre
Moxy Milan Malpensa
NH Hotel Malpensa
Holiday Inn Express Milan Malpensa
B&B Hotel Milano Malpensa

Dining

Terminal 1 offers a solid range of dining options including Italian sit-down restaurants, espresso bars, and familiar international chains spread across the departure lounges and airside areas. Terminal 2 has a more limited food court style selection but covers basic Italian snacks, sandwiches, and coffee. For a more authentic Lombard dining experience, the towns of Gallarate and Busto Arsizio nearby offer traditional trattorias a short drive from the airport.

Traveller Tips

Allow ample time between terminals — Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are connected by a free shuttle bus that runs every 7 minutes and takes approximately 10 minutes.
The Malpensa Express train is generally the fastest and most reliable way into central Milan; buy tickets in advance to avoid queues.
Italian airport security can be thorough during peak morning hours — arrive at least 2.5 hours before intercontinental departures.
Currency exchange rates inside the terminal are unfavourable; use ATMs and withdraw euros before leaving the arrivals hall.

Official website

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Route map (104 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Belavia Belarusian Airlines

Blue Panorama Airlines

Air China

Cathay Pacific

Delta Air Lines

Norwegian Air Shuttle

TAM Brazilian Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines

El Al Israel Airlines

Pakistan International Airlines

Pacific Southwest Airlines

Routes

MXP → CGN4U · 319 CRJ

MXP → DUS4U · CRJ 320

MXP → HAJ4U · 319

MXP → HAM4U · 319 CRJ

MXP → STR4U · CRJ 319

MXP → KIV9U · E90

MXP → ATHA3 · 320

MXP → LYSA5 · ER4 CRJ

MXP → NTEA5 · ER4

MXP → MIAAA · 763

MXP → JFKAA · 763

MXP → LHRAA · 319 320

MXP → TXLAB · 738 73G 320

MXP → VIEAB · E90

MXP → DUSAB · 73G 738 320

MXP → LYSAF · ER4 CRJ

MXP → MRSAF · AT7

MXP → NTEAF · ER4

MXP → ALGAH · 736

MXP → CTAAP · 320

MXP → TIAAP · 320

MXP → CMNAT · 738 73G

MXP → RAKAT · 738

MXP → HELAY · 321 320 32B

MXP → JFKAY · 763

MXP → MIAAY · 763

MXP → BEGAZ · 733

MXP → BEYAZ · 320

MXP → CAIAZ · 32S 319

MXP → CTAAZ · 320

MXP → GYDAZ · 320

MXP → JEDAZ · 320

MXP → JFKAZ · 330

MXP → LISAZ · 319 320

MXP → LUXAZ · DH4 ER4

MXP → MRSAZ · AT7

MXP → NTEAZ · ER4

MXP → RIXAZ · 73C 735

MXP → SVOAZ · 32S 319

MXP → TIAAZ · 320

MXP → MSQB2 · 735

MXP → AUHAZ · 332

MXP → FCOAZ · E75 E90

MXP → LEDAZ · 320

MXP → LYSAZ · ER4 CRJ

MXP → NRTAZ · 772

MXP → OPOAZ · ER4 100

MXP → RUHAZ · 320

MXP → SOFAZ · E90

MXP → TUNAZ · 319 32S

MXP → DXBB6 · 77W

MXP → JFKB6 · 77W

MXP → JFKBA · 763

MXP → LHRBA · 319 320 321

MXP → MIABA · 763

MXP → BHXBE · E75

MXP → MANBE · E75

MXP → RIXBT · 73C 735

MXP → CUNBV · 767

MXP → LRMBV · 767

Aircraft operating here

Airbus A32075 routes Airbus A31956 routes Boeing 767-30012 routes Embraer RJ14511 routes Boeing 737-80010 routes Airbus A3218 routes Boeing 7678 routes CRJ7 routes Embraer 1907 routes Boeing 777-300ER7 routes Boeing 7377 routes Boeing 737-7005 routes

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