Linate Airport
Milan Linate has the IATA code LIN and is 7km from the city centre. It is the city's second airport, after Malpensa, and it is the fourth busiest in Italy having handled over 9.5 million passengers in 2016. The name Linate comes from the village that is next to the airport, although it is officially named Airport Enrico Forlanini after the Italian aeronautical pioneer.
The airport is predominantly used for domestic and short-haul European flights since Malpensa became Milan's main international hub. There are twenty-one airlines serving around fifty destinations in fourteen countries. There is parking for forty-one planes, five of which have a direct connection to the terminal by airbridge, and the rest accessed by bus.
Terminal Building and Facilities
Linate airport has one terminal building with three levels, of which the third level is given over to office space. The ground level has the main arrivals area and baggage reclaim, the check-in area, with its seventy-one check-in desks and twelve self-service check-in machines, and a departures area with some of the bus access boarding gates. On level one is the main departures lounge, the retail areas and restaurants.
The terminal building has thirty-nine shops offering gifts, souvenirs, jewellery, sports and fashion clothing, news and magazines, pharmaceuticals and duty-free goods. The nineteen food and drink outlets provide a wide choice of restaurants, cafés, snack bars, fast food and bars for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
There is a post office and a bank between the arrivals hall and check-in area. ATMs and currency exchange offices are sited at various locations. Information desks and lost and found offices are well signposted.
Free and unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport and there are public computer terminals with internet access.
Assistance is available for the disabled, elderly and people with reduced mobility or special needs, although this should be requested through your airline at least forty-eight hours in advance.
There is a health service clinic at the airport at which the staff can deal with medical issues and offer advice on vaccinations, etc. Appointments and consultations must be booked in advance. Details can be found here.
Transport and Parking
The airport is easily accessible by public transportation including buses and taxis, and many local and international companies offer car hire.
- Bus - The number 73 bus service connects the airport with central Milan approximately every ten minutes during the day. In addition, public coaches and shuttle services operate from Linate to Milan Central Station, Malpensa Airport, Brescia, and Monza. In Milan, connections can be made to other national and international destinations. Find out more details here.
- Taxi - Taxis operate from the rank outside the exit from the arrivals hall. Vehicles with disabled access are available on request. View the Tariffs and fixed priced fares here.
- Train - There is no direct rail link to Milan Linate but regular buses connect to Milan Central Train Station. From this station, you can catch a train to all major destinations in Italy.
- Car Hire - Thirteen car rental companies have service desks in the arrivals hall and offer a wide choice of cars depending on your requirements. More details are available here.
For parking, there is short-term car park right outside the departures and arrivals halls, which is meter controlled. The two main car parks have first-class, long-stay and short-stay parking with the first twenty minutes free. Parking fares are available here.
History of the Airport
Milan Linate Airport was built in the 1930s and was the city's main international airport until the 1980s. At that time, with the increase in passenger traffic and the lack of room to expand, the decision was made to downgrade Linate to just handling domestic and inter European flights.
In 1988, Malpensa Airport, which underwent a major development, became Milan's air hub handling the majority of international scheduled and charter flights.