Linate, Milan’s ‘downstairs’ airport, has undergone a major redevelopment befitting of a city regarded as the capital of style. Matteo Legnani takes a closer look
““We built on design, technology and attention to detail, with a touch of greenery.” This is how Alessandro Fidato, chief operating officer at Società Esercizi Aeroportuali (SEA), described the principles that guided the restyling of the check-in and departures area at Milan/Linate. The once dated, cramped and congested airport has been transformed beyond all recognition, and passengers will now benefit from a greatly enhanced experience – from kerbside to airside.
The redesigned terminal – opened by Italian president Sergio Mattarella on June 8 – is part of a wider redevelopment that began in 2018. The landside façade was the first phase to be completed, before attention turned to the resurfacing of the single 18/36 runway. Over the last four years, SEA – which also manages Milan/Malpensa airport – has invested some £95m at Linate, including £51m for the terminal refresh and £21.5m for the work being carried out on the runway. It has already set aside a further £90m to invest in both the Schengen and non-Schengen areas of the departure concourse, and to enlarge the general aviation apron and build a new hangar.
