Milano Malpensa Airport also named City of Milan Airport, is the largest airport of Milan, Northern Italy. The first industrial airport was opened in 1909 by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni to test their prototypes, near the Cascina Malpensa, an old farm. The civil flight airport was then opened in 1948, during war reconstruction, to serve the northern area of Milan. Until recently, it was a major hub for Alitalia, but now serves as a hub for long-haul flights and low cost carriers. It is located 40 kilometers northwest of central Milan, Italy. It is one of 3 airports in the Milan metropolitan area.
Malpensa was the 21st busiest airport in Europe in terms of passengers, handling 18,947,808 passengers in 2010 and 18,537,301 in 2012. As of early 2008, Malpensa remains the top Italian airport in terms of international traffic, together with Rome Leonardo Da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport in terms of total passengers. As far as hub transit passengers are concerned it is also the second airport in Italy after Rome, according to ASSAEROPORTI traffic data. It is also the leading air freight gateway to Italy. Malpensa serves a population of over 15 million inhabitants. Malpensa has two terminals and a third runway has been announced, with construction to commence in 2014 and finish in 2017.
Arriving to Malpensa:
- By chance, your plane can park at the terminal or on the tarmac. Walking through the airport directly or waiting for the bus is a pure chance
- After taking the bus, you would have to pass a security check and continue to passport control
- Here is time to pick up your luggage
- Carts are available for 2€. Make sure to have a coin handy with you at all times
- Afterwards, many possibilities await, to take you out of the airport
- A direct train to Milan city for 10€. Train leaves every 30 minutes from the airport train station, located next to the Terminal 1 (T1). The ride takes only 30 minutes. Tickets can be bought online (Malpensa Express homepage) or at self-service machines or ticket desk.
- Milan taxis apply a flat, one-way €90 fare from Malpensa to any destination within Milan city center.
- Screens displaying traffic to Milan, can make you decide of your transportation way to the city
After passing customs, a dull airport is to be discovered specially if you move to the -1 level, where the Carrefour Express Market is located as well as the car rental companies. We picked up our car and continued walking until we reach the parking. Dirty and old, the first impression is not the best you can have of Italy's finesse.
Departing from Malpensa:
- Terminal 1 gates A or B. A for national traffic and B for international connections
- VIA MILANO: If you are traveling business, follow the Via Milano Fast Track sign that will make you skip hundreds of waiting inline passengers
- Middle East Airlines counter is located next to Check-in 2 at the beginning of the terminal
- Customs stamps and tax free are few meters away from the Middle East counter: We are lucky
- Pass through luggage control before deciding which airport to move to
- Passport control stands at the entrance of terminal B only
- Entrance to the Duty free is next to check-in 2
- The duty free has a large choice of shops, but the space is claustrophobic
The Food Court and restaurants:
- McDonald's
- Pizza Chef
- Gran Cafe
- MyChef
- Wine& Food Restaurant
- Harry's Bar
- Panino Giusto
\Milan Malpensa offers a comprehensive and exciting range of Duty Free featuring the most prestigious brands and exclusive products of Italian fashion. Milan Malpensa Airport's premium selection of products ranges from cosmetics to confectionery, fragrances to leading fashion and accessories, spirits to souvenirs, skin care to sunglasses, fine foods to fine wines, and champagne to cigars and tobacco. The Duty Free Shops:
- Ferrari Store
- Hudson News
- MontBlanc
- Bulgari
- Dufry Watches & Sunglasses
- Paul & Shark
- Swatch
- Dufry shops: Tax & Duty Free (Chocolates, cosmetics, tobacco and spirits)
- Furla
- Sunglasses
- Pandora
- Emporio Armani
- Swarovski
- Etro
- Gucci
- Salvatore Ferragamo
- Hermes
- Burberry
- The Pharmacy
- Boggi Milano
- BrunoMagli
- Bric's
- Motta
- Tosca Blu
- Piquadro
- Guess
Choosing to buy some accessories and relaxing at a cafe, Malpensa airport provides enough entertainment to make your waiting time pass quickly. Old, claustrophobic, dull and with a low ceiling, the choice of shops makes you forget those things. On the upper floor, behind the pharmacy, take the long escalator to the British Airways business lounge where a buffet and a free internet connection awaits you.
Traveling to Milan, you'll know what to expect.
