Malpensa Airport's Berlusconi Naming Gets Final Legal Approval: What's Changing for Travelers

The Italy Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) has formally instructed SEA, the operator of Milan's airports, to install new signage at Malpensa Airport displaying its full official name: "Milano Malpensa International Airport - Silvio Berlusconi." The directive follows a Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lombardy ruling on April 23, 2026 that upheld the controversial naming decision, ending months of legal challenges from Milan and several nearby municipalities.

Why This Matters:

• Physical signage upgrade imminent: Despite the name change being official since July 2024, terminal signs, wayfinding panels, and digital displays have not yet reflected the new designation.

• Legal clarity for airport infrastructure: The ruling affirms that national aviation authorities—not local councils—hold jurisdiction over airport naming, setting a precedent for future disputes.

• Olympic timing: The signage rollout coincides with a €30M terminal modernization ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, currently underway at Malpensa.

The Court's Rationale: State Interests Over Local Objections

The TAR Lombardy panel dismissed all municipal appeals, clarifying that airports belong to the national public domain and serve interests that transcend local boundaries. The judges underscored that airport naming falls squarely under state competence, distinguishing it from municipal street or square designations, which local governments can control.

Milan had argued that the use of its name—"Milano Malpensa"—should have required city approval, especially given the commercial and reputational implications. The city also claimed procedural flaws, alleging inadequate consultation and a rushed approval process. Neighboring towns in the Varese province—Cardano al Campo, Somma Lombardo, and Samarate—joined the legal challenge, citing the airport's geographic footprint within their territories.

The court found these concerns legally irrelevant. According to the ruling, the act of naming an airport is "essentially honorary and symbolic," carrying no direct legal consequences for the surrounding communities. The decision also validated the procedural steps taken by ENAC, affirming that the authority followed the same process used to rename airports in Salerno and Olbia without objection.

Political Flashpoints and the "Divisive Figure" Debate

The intitolation has been a political lightning rod since it was first proposed by the Lombardy Regional Council shortly after Berlusconi's death in 2023. The name was officially adopted via an ENAC ordinance on July 11, 2024, following approval from then-Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini.

Opposition parties immediately decried the move as "divisive" and "inappropriate" for an infrastructure hub of national and international importance. The Democratic Party (PD) filed a parliamentary inquiry with Salvini, while regional PD leader Pierfrancesco Majorino suggested alternatives such as humanitarian doctor Gino Strada or slain diplomat Luca Attanasio. A petition backed by the Filt Cgil trade union and Lombardy labor federations proposed naming the airport after ballet legend Carla Fracci, calling Berlusconi's legacy "profoundly polarizing."

The Five Star Movement (M5S) accused the Meloni government of enabling a "banana republic" approach to public infrastructure, while Verdi (Greens) echoed concerns about the lack of public consultation. Former Chamber President Laura Boldrini characterized the decision as a "Salvini power grab," lamenting that ENAC ignored thousands of petition signatures opposing the change.

Right-leaning officials, by contrast, celebrated the ruling. Salvini called it a "victory for common sense" and a deserved tribute to "an absolute protagonist of our country." Berlusconi's daughters, Marina and Barbara, described the naming as a "merited recognition" and dismissed the legal challenges as ideologically motivated attacks.

A Ten-Year Rule—and Why It Didn't Apply

One recurring criticism centers on Law 1188/1927, which typically mandates a ten-year waiting period before public sites can bear the name of a deceased individual. Berlusconi died in 2023; the airport was renamed in 2024—raising eyebrows about procedural shortcuts.

However, the law includes exceptions for figures who received state funerals, a distinction Berlusconi earned upon his death. ENAC President Pierluigi Di Palma emphasized this point in his statement accompanying the latest signage directive, noting that Berlusconi's "institutional, political, and entrepreneurial role" justified the accelerated timeline. The TAR ruling effectively ratified this interpretation, finding no procedural breach.

What This Means for Residents and Travelers

For passengers transiting through Malpensa, the change will soon be visible across terminal wayfinding systems, boarding passes, baggage tags, and airline timetables. SEA has been instructed to expedite the installation "with all permissible urgency," according to an order from ENAC Territorial Director Monica Piccirillo.

During the transition period, travelers should be aware that booking references, airline apps, and navigation systems may display either the old "Milano Malpensa" name or the new official designation "Milano Malpensa - Silvio Berlusconi." Both names refer to the same airport, so if you encounter either name when checking flights or using travel apps, you're in the right place. This dual naming may persist for several weeks as systems across airlines, hotels, and travel platforms update their databases.

The timing coincides with major infrastructure upgrades tied to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The airport is investing €30M to redesign departure and arrival zones in Terminal 1, expand passport control capacity, and modernize baggage claim areas. A new LED multimedia wall has been installed to welcome Olympic athletes and spectators, transforming the terminal into an immersive digital environment.

Separately, Malpensa's runway 35L/17R remains closed until May 9, 2026 for extraordinary maintenance and technology upgrades, including resurfacing, taxiway improvements, and modernization of AVL (airfield lighting) systems. The airport continues operating on its secondary runway, with minimal reported disruption.

Precedents in Airport Naming—and Why This Case Differs

Italy's major airports typically honor universally acclaimed figures: Rome-Fiumicino bears the name of Leonardo da Vinci, Venice honors Marco Polo, Bologna commemorates physicist Guglielmo Marconi, and Turin celebrates former President Sandro Pertini. The ENAC leadership has pointed out that Salerno and Olbia airports were recently renamed without controversy, using the same legal pathway.

The Malpensa case differs in scale and symbolism. As Italy's second-busiest international gateway, handling millions of annual passengers, the airport's naming carries heightened visibility. Berlusconi's legacy—marked by political dominance, media empire-building, business success, and judicial controversies—remains a subject of sharply divided public opinion.

The TAR decision also contrasts with stricter rules governing municipal name changes. A 2019 Constitutional Court ruling mandates that any alteration to a town or city name—even minor additions like "Terme" (spa)—requires a local referendum. In March 2026, the Ligurian municipality of Vallecrosia voted to add "al Mare" to its name, improving search engine visibility and clarifying its coastal location.

What's Next: Implementation and Potential Appeals

SEA is expected to begin installing the new signage within weeks, with completion targeted before peak summer travel season. The process includes updating physical terminal signs, digital screens, wayfinding apps, and official communications.

While the TAR ruling is legally binding at the regional administrative level, parties theoretically could escalate the matter to the Council of State, Italy's highest administrative court. However, legal analysts consider this unlikely given the clarity of the TAR's reasoning and the national jurisdiction framework established by the decision.

For now, the "Milano Malpensa - Silvio Berlusconi" designation stands as official policy, a symbolic claim by the center-right coalition over one of Europe's major aviation hubs—and a reminder of how public space, memory, and political identity remain contested terrain in contemporary Italy.