[REVISION HISTORY]

Malpensa Airport officially renamed to Silvio Berlusconi

Updated 6 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-27 19:24 UTC → 2026-09-28 17:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following an Enac board decision in July 2024, Malpensa Airport underwent a process to be officially renamed in honor of the late former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. The renaming faced legal opposition from the Municipality of Milan and several surrounding municipalities, but the Lombardy Regional Administrative Court rejected these appeals, ruling that the designation was ‘primarily symbolic and honorary.’ On September 25, 2026, a ceremony was held at Terminal 1 to officially unveil the new signage and mark the completion of the renaming process. The airport is now formally designated as ‘Aeroporto Internazionale Milano Malpensa – Silvio Berlusconi’. The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana. Members of the Berlusconi family, including daughter Marina Berlusconi and brother Paolo Berlusconi, were also in attendance. Marina Berlusconi described the tribute as a ‘bridge to the world’ that reflects her father’s vision. While the renaming follows a multi-year administrative and legal process, political opposition remains a central theme. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala declined to attend the ceremony, citing ‘political consistency.’ The decision has sparked broader national debate; supporters view it as a tribute to a figure who transformed Italy’s media landscape, while critics have raised concerns over the political implications. Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio defended the choice, comparing it to existing streets named after leftist figures such as Salvador Allende, Stalin, and Mao Zedong. ~~For travelers,~~ Newer criticisms have emerged following the ~~international code remains MXP, and~~ ceremony, specifically from the ~~name ‘Malpensa’~~ Green group Europa Verde, which alleged that the airport’s management company, SEA, was excluded from the decision-making process. Despite these disputes, aviation experts confirm the change is administrative and will ~~continue to be used widely in operational systems.~~ not affect flight operations or international airport codes (MXP/LIMC).

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