Milan Airport Officially Named After Silvio Berlusconi

Milan Malpensa Airport officially bears the name of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi following a dedication ceremony on September 25, 2026, according to reports from BalticTravelnews.com/Unionsarda.it. The renaming of Italy’s second busiest passenger hub follows a civil aviation authority decision and subsequent legal battles from local municipalities that reached a regional court earlier this year.

## Official Renaming Ceremony at Terminal 1

Milan Malpensa Airport officially adopted the name “Milano Malpensa – Silvio Berlusconi” during a ceremony held at the airport’s Terminal 1, as reported by BalticTravelnews.com/Unionsarda.it. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and members of the Berlusconi family attended the event, where a silver plaque was unveiled in the terminal, according to source reports.

Marina Berlusconi described the event as an emotional moment, stating that she felt pride in linking her father’s name to an airport welcoming travelers from across the globe, as cited by BalticTravelnews.com/Unionsarda.it. For everyday passengers, operations remain largely unchanged. The international airport code MXP stays the same and will continue to appear on airline tickets and baggage documents.

## Legal Challenges and Court Battles Over the New Name

The Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) approved the renaming in July 2024, roughly a year after Berlusconi’s death at age 86 in June 2023. The decision triggered immediate pushback. The Milan city council alongside three neighboring municipalities in the Lombardy region filed legal challenges to block the airport from taking the former prime minister’s name, arguing that local authorities hold naming rights rather than the civil aviation agency, and citing a law prohibiting monuments to individuals until ten years have passed since their death.

In April, the Lombardy regional administrative court dismissed the municipal challenges, ruling them inadmissible and clearing the path for the official designation, as detailed in the source texts. Similar to Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport and Venice Marco Polo Airport, the transport hub now joins other major Italian facilities named after historical figures.

## Political Legacy and Public Division

Silvio Berlusconi dominated Italian politics for thirty years as a billionaire, media magnate, and founder of the Forza Italia party. Public opinion on his legacy remains sharply divided. Supporters view him as a charismatic statesman who elevated Italy's profile on the global stage, while critics characterize him as a populist who used political power for personal advantage, according to primary reports.

The decision to name a major national transport hub after him acts as a symbolic gesture cementing his presence in Italy’s collective memory. The renaming puts a permanent stamp on Milan, the city where Berlusconi was born, built his media empire, and owned the AC Milan football club.