Milan Malpensa Airport is the largest international airport in northern Italy, serving Lombardy, Piedmont and Liguria, as well as the Swiss Canton of Ticino.
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17 Facts About Malpensa Airport
3.
Until 2008, Malpensa Airport was a major hub for flag carrier Alitalia.
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4.
Malpensa Airport remains the second-busiest Italian airport for international passenger traffic, and the busiest for freight and cargo, handling over 500,000 tons of international freight annually.
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5.
Malpensa Airport was opened in 1909 by Giovanni Agusta and Gianni Caproni to test their aircraft prototypes, before switching to civil operation in 1948.
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6.
Site of today's Malpensa Airport has seen aviation activities for more than 100 years.
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7.
In September 1943, Malpensa Airport airfield was taken over by Nazi Germany's Luftwaffe when northern Italy was invaded by Adolf Hitler.
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8.
Malpensa Airport officially commenced commercial operations on 21 November 1948 as Aeroporto Citta di Busto Arsizio, although the Belgian national flag-carrier Sabena had started flying to Brussels from here a year earlier.
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9.
Malpensa Airport suffered a decline in commercial traffic, with passenger numbers dropping from 525,000 in 1960 to just 331,000 by 1965.
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10.
Malpensa was designated as the centre for all services covering northern Italy, while Linate Airport was downgraded to a domestic and short-haul facility.
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11.
In 2000, airport security services at Malpensa were transferred from the Polizia di Stato to SEA's internal division, SEA Airport Security.
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12.
Nevertheless, SEA Malpensa Airport Security is supervised by the Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza and Ente Nazionale Aviazione Civile, whereas the Carabinieri supervises ramp entrance.
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13.
Malpensa Airport has two passenger terminals and they are connected by airport shuttle buses and trains.
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14.
Malpensa Airport additionally provides free shuttles connecting Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.
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15.
Malpensa Airport is served by two train stations, one in each terminal.
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16.
Malpensa Airport Express is a direct train connection between Terminal 2, Terminal 1 and Milan's city centre.
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17.
Malpensa Airport is accessible by a four-lane motorway to the A8 and by a five-lane motorway to the A4.
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