Milan Malpensa Airport — Complete 2026 Guide

Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP / LIMC) is the second-busiest airport in Italy and the country's largest cargo hub. It is located in Ferno, Varese province, Lombardy — 49 km north-west of Milan city centre.

• Operator: SEA Aeroporti di Milano (also runs Linate LIN)
• Coordinates: 45.63°N, 8.73°E · elevation 234 m
• 2 parallel runways 17L/35R and 17R/35L, both 3,920 m long
• Passenger traffic 2025: 31.4 million (all-time record, +8.6% YoY)
• Cargo 2024: 731,641 tonnes (#1 in Italy)
• Direct destinations: ~230 in winter/summer schedule
• SkyTrax rating: 4-star certified airport
• Direct trains to Milano Centrale in 50 min via Malpensa Express

In July 2024 the airport was renamed in honour of Silvio Berlusconi, though the common name «Malpensa» remains in everyday use.

Malpensa has two terminals that are not connected airside. To transfer between them you need to use the free shuttle bus or the Malpensa Express train.

Terminal 1 (T1)

The main terminal — handles 85%+ of all passengers. Three boarding areas: A (domestic & Schengen), B (non-Schengen including Middle East and Africa), B2/C (long-haul to USA and Israel with enhanced security).

• Arrivals: Level 0, doors 1–8
• Departures: Level 1
• Gates and lounges: Level 2
• Railway station (Malpensa Express): Level −1

Terminal 2 (T2)

Smaller, single-level terminal. After the 2023 reorganisation, easyJet is the only major carrier operating from T2 — Malpensa is its second-biggest base in the world after London Gatwick.

T1 ↔ T2 shuttle

Free shuttle bus runs every 7 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00, and every 30 minutes overnight. Journey time ~7 minutes. Stops at T1 in front of the Sheraton Hotel (doors 4–5) and at T2 outside Arrivals.

Malpensa is a hub for SkyTeam, Star Alliance and Oneworld carriers. Most European, Middle Eastern, North American and Asian majors operate from T1; easyJet dominates T2.

Long-haul examples

• Middle East: Emirates (Dubai, often A380), Qatar Airways (Doha), Etihad (Abu Dhabi), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul hub-feeder)
• Asia: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, ANA, EVA Air, Thai Airways, Air China, China Eastern, Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines (new 2025)
• North America: American (Philadelphia — new 2025), Delta (Boston — new 2025, plus ATL, JFK), United (Newark, Chicago), Air Canada, JetBlue (JFK)
• Italian: ITA Airways (Alitalia successor), Neos (charter + long-haul), Air Dolomiti (regional)

Top domestic destinations 2024

Catania, Palermo, Naples, Bari, Brindisi, Olbia, Lamezia Terme.

The most asked question: «how do I get to Milan from MXP?» Here is the honest comparison of 7 options. Prices and times — December 2025.

Malpensa Express details

Operator Trenord. Two lines: S50 to Milano Cadorna (37 min), RE80 to Milano Centrale (50 min) via Busto Arsizio. Train every 30 minutes from 04:57 to 23:27. Same-day return €25. Tickets at trenord.it, malpensaexpress.it or station machines — must be validated before boarding.

Taxi flat rate

The official SEA / Comune di Milano flat rate is €110 to Milan centre, 24/7 with no night surcharge. Confirm «tariffa fissa» with the driver before departure. Use only the official taxi rank (TaxiBlu, Autoradiotaxi 028585, 026969) — unlicensed drivers in Arrivals may charge €150–250.

Beyond Milan, Malpensa is the closest international airport to several Alpine and lake resorts.

SEA operates six main parking lots at Malpensa, each tuned to a different use case.

EV charging

Enel X Way charging points (Type 2 and CCS) at P1, P2 and P3, from €0.49/kWh. Tesla Superchargers — 5 minutes away in Cardano al Campo.

Kiss & Fly

Free 10-minute drop-off at dedicated zones in front of T1 and T2 (both Arrivals and Departures level). Camera-controlled — overstay penalty applies.

All lounges are post-security. Walk-in prices listed below.

Terminal 1

• Sala Montale (Boarding Area B, Non-Schengen) — Priority Pass, oneworld, LoungeKey. 1,240 m², 220 seats, shower, hot food. Walk-in €50.
• Sala Monteverdi (Area A, Schengen) — Priority Pass, Star Alliance Gold, paid €40.
• Sala Pertini (Area B) — €45 walk-in, SEA Lounge Card. Long-haul focus.
• Emirates Lounge — Emirates First/Business + Skywards Gold/Platinum only.
• Lufthansa Senator / Business Lounge — LH/SWISS/Austrian Senator, Star Alliance Gold.

Terminal 2

Sala Lounge T2 — SEA-operated, Priority Pass or €35 paid entry. Drinks and snacks, no showers.

Wi-Fi

«Free MXP Wi-Fi» — operated by SEA, free, no time limit (the previous 4-hour cap was removed in 2025). Speeds 20–50 Mbps in T1, ~10 Mbps in T2. Login via SMS or email.

SIM cards (T1 Arrivals)

Passport required for SIM purchase (Italian KYC law). Alternative: eSIM (Saily, Airalo, Holafly) — activate before arrival.

ATMs and currency exchange

Intesa Sanpaolo, UniCredit, BNL, Banco BPM ATMs on both levels of T1, 2 ATMs in T2 Arrivals. Use ATMs over Forexchange / Travelex — currency-exchange booths charge 8–12% on USD/GBP/CHF.

Sheraton also offers Day-Use rates from €120 (4-hour rooms) — useful for long layovers.

If you book a private transfer with Malpensa Transfer, here is exactly where the driver waits.

Terminal 1 — Door 4

Standard meeting point: Level 0 (Arrivals), Door 4 — the exit straight from baggage claim. There is a designated chauffeur waiting zone right outside, with name-sign-holding drivers from many companies. Look for the «Malpensa Transfer» sign.

Terminal 2

Ground floor, central area in front of Arrivals exit. Smaller meeting space — easier to spot the driver.

What if I can't find the driver?

Walk to the SEA Info Point (T1 Level 0, centre) — they'll page our operator. Your booking confirmation also has the driver's mobile number — flight tracking lets us spot delays automatically, but a quick WhatsApp message removes any doubt.

From 23 January to 20 March 2026 Milan and Cortina host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Malpensa is the main international gateway.

• +400,000 extra visitors over the period
• 37,200 stakeholders (athletes, delegations, media)
• Peak loads up to +55,000 pax/day (≈30% above normal)
• 2,500 oversized luggage items / day (skis, boards)
• €30M invested in T1 expansion, new taxiways, athlete luggage area
• 200 SEA volunteers + 300 specialised ski trolleys
• Full PRM accessibility achieved

Tip for non-Olympic travellers: book everything well in advance, arrive 3 hours early for flights, charter flights may relocate to T2.

Inside the T1 transit zone: restaurants, lounges, shops, smoking boxes, free Wi-Fi. ZzzleepandGo sleep pods (4 units in T1 Level 2 Departures, landside) — €9/hour. For deep rest on a long layover, Sheraton Day-Use is the only real option.