Malpensa: 35l/17r slope closed from 16 March to 9 May 2026
From 16 March to 9 May 2026, runway 35L/17R at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) will be temporarily closed to flight operations to allow for extraordinary maintenance and technological modernisation of the infrastructure. The airport will still remain regularly operational thanks to the use of the second runway, albeit with a reduction in overall capacity.
What changes for passengers
During the period of the works, ENAC and SEA - in coordination with ENAV, Assoclearance and the airlines - prepared an operational plan aimed at ensuring continuity of service and safety, with the aim of limiting any impact on flight schedules and schedules.
To protect the right to mobility of passengers, a temporary reallocation of part of the historical traffic on Milan Linate (LIN) has also been envisaged. Exceptionally and only for the period of closure of runway 35L at Malpensa, ENAC has authorized an increase in Linate's operational capacity: from the usual 18 movements per hour up to a maximum of 8 additional movements per hour, reserved exclusively for Schengen flights operated with narrow-body aircraft. At the moment, the actual use of this additional capacity is limited to 2 additional movements per hour, concentrated in certain time slots.
For travellers departing from or arriving from Malpensa (MXP) in the indicated period, it is advisable to check with your airline for any updates, especially for Schengen flights that may be temporarily operated on Milan Linate (LIN).
The interventions planned at Malpensa
The works are part of the cyclical maintenance program of airport infrastructures and include:
- resurfacing of the runway,
- interventions on taxiing surfaces,
- modernization of AVL technological systems,
- complete replacement of the lighting system with new LED lamps,
- installation of an innovative track light monitoring system,
- adjustments on some taxiways, with temporary changes to ground handling.
The activities will be carried out 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, to respect the scheduled times and minimize the duration of the closure.
Safety and competitiveness of the airport
According to the President of ENAC, Pierluigi Di Palma, the interventions aim at the continuous improvement of infrastructures and services, ensuring high standards of safety and operational reliability.
Armando Brunini of SEA, underlines how the transaction is part of a structured investment plan aimed at strengthening the infrastructural solidity and competitiveness of Milan Malpensa, a strategic hub for national and international traffic in Northern Italy.
