SEA Milan Airports and Italy’s civil-aviation authority ENAC have confirmed that runway 35L/17R at Milan-Malpensa will close for resurfacing and lighting upgrades from 16 March to 9 May 2026. During the seven-week project the airport will operate on a single runway, reducing hourly movements and prompting carriers to redirect up to eight additional Schengen-area flights per hour to the city-centre Linate hub.
The works are part of a €40-million infrastructure plan designed to prepare Malpensa for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic peak next year. Contractors will work 24/7 to mill and relay 280,000 m² of pavement, install LEDs compatible with the EU’s new Digital NOTAM system, and upgrade taxiway shoulders to handle heavier wide-bodies used by cargo integrators.
For airlines the temporary capacity cap means tighter slot portfolios; SEA says 94% of existing slots have been re-protected but late-night cargo operators will face curfews. Travel-management companies should expect itinerary changes, longer minimum-connect times at Malpensa, and higher demand for Linate’s limited parking stands.
![Malpensa Runway Works to Cut Capacity from 16 March, Flights Shifted to Linate]()
If the shifting flight schedules require you to amend your travel dates or secure a fresh Schengen visa, VisaHQ can simplify the process with online applications, step-by-step guidance, and expedited service options—visit https://www.visahq.com/italy/ to see how they can help keep your Milan trip on track.
Business travellers should also note that security queues at Linate may lengthen, as the airport will handle an extra 1.2 million passengers over the 55-day period. ENAC advises premium travellers to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure even on domestic hops. Taxi fares between Malpensa and Milan remain fixed at €104, but the municipality is adding an express bus every 15 minutes to ease the modal shift.
Despite the short-term pain, SEA CEO Armando Brunini says the investment will boost Malpensa’s competitiveness post-2026, enabling Category III operations in low visibility and shaving taxi times by 8%.
The works are part of a €40-million infrastructure plan designed to prepare Malpensa for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic peak next year. Contractors will work 24/7 to mill and relay 280,000 m² of pavement, install LEDs compatible with the EU’s new Digital NOTAM system, and upgrade taxiway shoulders to handle heavier wide-bodies used by cargo integrators.
For airlines the temporary capacity cap means tighter slot portfolios; SEA says 94% of existing slots have been re-protected but late-night cargo operators will face curfews. Travel-management companies should expect itinerary changes, longer minimum-connect times at Malpensa, and higher demand for Linate’s limited parking stands.
If the shifting flight schedules require you to amend your travel dates or secure a fresh Schengen visa, VisaHQ can simplify the process with online applications, step-by-step guidance, and expedited service options—visit https://www.visahq.com/italy/ to see how they can help keep your Milan trip on track.
Business travellers should also note that security queues at Linate may lengthen, as the airport will handle an extra 1.2 million passengers over the 55-day period. ENAC advises premium travellers to arrive at least 90 minutes before departure even on domestic hops. Taxi fares between Malpensa and Milan remain fixed at €104, but the municipality is adding an express bus every 15 minutes to ease the modal shift.
Despite the short-term pain, SEA CEO Armando Brunini says the investment will boost Malpensa’s competitiveness post-2026, enabling Category III operations in low visibility and shaving taxi times by 8%.
