Milan’s main international airport, Malpensa, will be renamed Aeroporto Silvio Berlusconi.
This decision, announced by right-wing Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, follows approval from the Italian aviation authority ENAC.
The renaming honors the late former prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi, who passed away in June 2023 at the age of 86.
Berlusconi, a prominent and polarizing figure, was born in Milan in 1936. He was a successful property developer and media mogul who founded the conservative party Forza Italia in the 1990s.
Berlusconi served four times as prime minister, despite numerous scandals throughout his career.
He also led the AC Milan football club for many years, cementing his influence on the city’s cultural and political landscape.
The decision to rename Milan’s main airport after Berlusconi has sparked debate. Milan Mayor Beppe Sala, a center-left politician, argues that the renaming violates a rule that public buildings and squares can only be named after a famous person ten years posthumously. Despite this contention, the official renaming process is underway.
Milan Malpensa Airport, located about 50 kilometers outside the city, is the largest of Milan’s three airports. The other two are Linate Airport and the provincial Milan-Bergamo Airport.
Previously, there had been discussions about naming Linate Airport after Berlusconi, but these plans were blocked by the Milan City Council last month, which also rejected the proposal for a Silvio Berlusconi square. Mayor Sala emphasized, “Rules are there to be respected.”
The renaming of Milan’s main airport to Aeroporto Silvio Berlusconi (Silvio Berlusconi Airport) signifies a lasting tribute to a figure who has left an indelible mark on Italy’s political and media landscape. This change will undoubtedly be a point of reflection for many travelers passing through the airport in the years to come.
