Milan Malpensa Airport
Milan · Italy
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the largest airport in northern Italy and the second-busiest in Italy overall, located 49 km northwest of Milan. It serves as a major intercontinental gateway for non-European visitors and handles over 65% of Italy's air cargo.
Milan Malpensa Airport is an international airport located in Ferno, in the Province of Varese, Lombardy, Italy, approximately 49 kilometers northwest of Milan. Opened in 1948 for civil operations, it is the largest airport in northern Italy and serves the regions of Lombardy, Piedmont, and Liguria, as well as the Swiss canton of Ticino. As of 2025, Malpensa handled 31.4 million passengers, making it the 21st-busiest airport in Europe and the second-busiest in Italy. The airport operates as a hybrid hub with Terminal 1 hosting legacy carriers and long-haul international flights, while Terminal 2 is dedicated exclusively to easyJet. Uniquely among Italian airports, Malpensa plays a critical industrial role, processing over 65% of Italy's air cargo and handling 763,118 tonnes in 2025.
Interesting facts
- Malpensa Airport was originally opened in 1909 by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni as a testing ground for their aircraft prototypes before transitioning to civil operations in 1948.
- The airport is located inside the Parco Naturale Lombardo Della Valle Del Ticino, a nature reserve that is included by UNESCO in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
- Malpensa is ninth in the world and sixth in Europe for the number of countries served with direct flights, making it a major international hub.
- Terminal 2 is easyJet's largest base in continental Europe, with the airline operating exclusively from this terminal.
- The airport's Cargo City handles over 65% of Italy's total air cargo, with a dedicated freight handling capacity and logistics infrastructure supporting the manufacturing heart of Lombardy.
- Malpensa has two parallel runways capable of handling all aircraft types, including the Airbus A380.
Tips for travelers
- Use the Malpensa Express rail service for convenient connections to Milan city center, with direct links to Milan Cadorna, Milan Porta Garibaldi, and Milan Central stations. Terminal 1 has a railway station that opened in 1999, and Terminal 2 has a railway station that opened in 2016.
- Allow extra time for security screening; typical wait times average around 30 minutes, though this can vary during peak travel periods.
- Terminal 1 handles legacy carriers and long-haul international flights, while Terminal 2 is exclusively for easyJet; confirm your terminal before arrival.
- The airport is equipped with modern baggage handling systems and offers various amenities including dining, shopping, and business facilities across both terminals.
- If traveling with cargo or freight, note that Malpensa has dedicated cargo facilities and is Italy's primary hub for air freight operations.
- Consider that the airport serves a vast catchment area extending into Switzerland and Piedmont, so it may be convenient even if traveling to nearby regions.