Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
History, Facts and Overview

(Milan, Italy)

Malpensa Airport originated during World War I, when it was established as a flying school in the province of Varese, on the north-westerly outskirts of Milan. Used as a German airfield in World War II, Malpensa was badly bombed and in the mid-forties, its lengthy concrete runway was repaired and flights to Brussels soon began.

The following decade saw the start of night flights, the building of the control tower, and the installation of a high-tech radar system. By 1967, the airport was enlarged and more recently in the early nineties, the departures areas of Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) were extended, attracting many new business opportunities.


Facilities at Milan Malpensa Airport are distributed around the two terminal buildings, with noticeably more in Terminal 1. Passengers and visitors will find seven Forexchange outlets, VAT refund and premier tax-free desks, and banks and cashpoints operated by Banca Popolare di Milano and the Banca Nazionale Del Lavoro. Onsite, Malpensa also offers an airport greeting desk, various travel agencies, a Fly Business Centre, wireless Internet and two Catholic chapels, one in each of the terminals

In total, Milan Malpensa Airport is home to just less than 150 stores, restaurants, coffee shops and bars. Those on a last-minute shopping trip will find plenty of places to spend their money. Particularly popular is Dufry (clothing, perfumes and alcohol), Football Corner (sportswear), Gucci (design fashion), Otticaspesi (sunglasses) and Itineris, Marco and the Milano Shop (newsagents), along with the innumerable duty-free shops. Private airport Club SEA lounges are also available and come complete with workstations, the day's newspapers, phones with free local calls, and VIP areas.