Milan Malpensa Airport confirms that “runway 35L/17R will be temporarily closed to flight operations from 16 March-9 May 2026.
Minimizing the impact on operations
This closure will allow for extraordinary maintenance and technological innovation of the runway. During the works, which are part of the airport infrastructure maintenance programme, Malpensa will remain fully operational thanks to the use of the second runway, with a reduction in the airport's overall capacity. A joint statement by ENAC and SEA explains that, in conjunction with ENAV, Assoclearance and the carriers, a series of actions are planned to ensure maximum commitment to the coordinated management of activities, with the aim of minimizing the impact on operations and guaranteeing the continuity of service in compliance with the highest safety standards.
“Rescheduling flights to Linate”
improvement of infrastructure and services. We guarantee citizens “the right to mobility by minimizing the number of days the runway is closed and rescheduling flights to Linate: a concrete solution to eliminate inconvenience and ensure continuity of service,” said ENAC’s president Pierluigi Di Palma. ‘The work planned on one of the runways at Milan Malpensa is part of a structured investment plan to ensure the long-term infrastructure solidity, safety and operational reliability of the airport, strengthening its competitiveness,” said Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Milan Airports. “Advance planning of the work will minimize the impact on users and ensure operational continuity and the quality of service for passengers using Milan’s airport system."
A new LED lighting system
The works will involve resurfacing the runway and aircraft taxiways, as well as modernizing the technological systems, with the aim of ensuring high standards of safety and operational reliability over time. The lighting system will also be completely replaced, with the use of innovative LED lamps and the installation of a new lighting monitoring system. The works will also affect part of the taxiways, requiring some changes to the usual procedures for managing aircraft ground movements, and will be carried out 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Increased capacity at Milan Linate
ENAC, at the operator's request, has temporarily increased the operational capacity of Milan Linate Airport, limited to the period of closure of runway 35L at Malpensa, in order to allow the temporary reallocation of part of the historical traffic operated by Milan Malpensa. In particular, the capacity of Milan Linate airport, set at 18 movements per hour, has been increased to a maximum of 8 additional movements per hour, only for flights to/from Schengen destinations, operated with narrow-body aircraft. Within the new temporary capacity, the actual use to date is two additional movements per hour, limited to certain time slots.
