Linate

Aeroporto di Milano Linate Enrico Forlanini (LIN) is one of the three major airports serving the Milano metropolitan area, alongside Malpensa (MXP) and Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY, far away from the city). Located just about seven kilometres east of the city centre of Milano, Linate primarily handles domestic and short-haul European flights, making it the most convenient option for travellers heading directly into Milano. Its proximity to the city allows for a quick transfer – usually less than half an hour – which has long appealed to business passengers and locals alike. Despite its compact layout compared to Malpensa, Linate is known for its efficiency, modern facilities, and rather civilised atmosphere, balancing practicality with understated Italian elegance.

The airport’s name honours Enrico Forlanini, an Italian engineer and inventor from Milano whose pioneering work contributed greatly to early aviation and aeronautics. Born in 1848, Forlanini was a visionary well ahead of his time. He designed airships, helicopters, and hydrofoils, constantly pushing the limits of engineering during an era when flight was still a daring dream. Among his notable creations was one of the first prototype helicopters, which demonstrated vertical flight decades before practical models were achieved. Naming Milano’s city airport after such an innovator feels fitting – a tribute to Lombardy’s spirit of invention and progress.

Linate itself dates back to the 1930s, when the original airfield was opened to replace the smaller Taliedo airport, also in Milano. It quickly became a key hub for Italian civil aviation and played a strategic role during the Second World War. After the conflict, the airport was rebuilt and modernised several times, gradually evolving into a sleek regional gateway. Its compact size belies its importance: it has long served as Alitalia’s and now ITA Airways’ secondary Milano base, offering frequent shuttle flights to Roma Fiumicino (FCO) and connections to major European capitals. Over the years, Linate has undergone renovations to improve passenger comfort and safety, most recently a significant modernisation project completed in the early 2020s.

Beyond functionality, Linate carries a subtle historical charm. It represents an era when aviation was more about accessibility and refinement than mass transit. The airport’s design blends Italian modernist aesthetics with practical efficiency, mirroring Milano’s broader identity as a city of innovation and style. Whether arriving for business, fashion, or leisure, travellers often appreciate the sense of calm efficiency unique to Linate – an airport that, though modest in scale, captures the enduring ingenuity symbolised by Enrico Forlanini’s legacy.

Aeroporto di Milano Linate Enrico Forlanini (LIN)
Milano
Italy
https://www.milanolinate-airport.com/en