Located 48 kilometres north-west of Milan, Malpensa Airport is the largest airport in northern Italy. It's a major hub for Italy's flagship airline, Alitalia, and is used by over 50 airlines. Touching down in Milan is a unique experience, especially when arriving from the north. The Alps provide the backdrop to the runways,with snow covered landscapes for almost half the year.
Nearly all flights leave from the large and modern Terminal 1, including all intercontinental services. This terminal is subdivided into three sections. Terminal 1A is for domestic and flights to other Schengen countries, with terminals 1B and 1C used for other destinations. Flights leave to cities as far flung as Beijing, Hong Kong, São Paulo, and Tashkent. Easy jet and other low-cost carriers use Terminal 2, the airport's original terminal. The two terminals are connected by a free shuttle bus service.
The fastest connections from the airport to central Milan are the two Malpensa Express trains that leave from outside Terminal 1. One train travels to Milano Cadorna and the other to Milano Centrale, with journey times of 30 to 40 minutes. Bus services into Milan City Centre are often cheaper but typically take longer. Taxis are readily available outside both terminals.
Planes have been taking off from the Malpensa site for over a century. It was originally used by the Caproni Brothers, who were amongst the first to build commercial biplanes. They first flew their flying machine in 1910, although the runway was only upgraded from an old farming patch to concrete during World War II.