Many first-time visitors assume Malpensa is a single building. It is not. The airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, and they are not next door to each other: by road they are about 5 km apart, a drive of around eight minutes. For a chauffeur pickup this matters, because a driver waiting at the wrong terminal is a driver who is not there when you walk out. Here is what you need to know.
Who uses which terminal
Terminal 1 is the main terminal. It handles intercontinental flights and most full-service European airlines: if you are flying from New York, Dubai, London on a traditional carrier or anywhere in Asia, you will almost certainly land there. Terminal 2 is used almost entirely by easyJet for its European routes, with a small number of other operators at times.
Airport arrangements can change from one season to the next, so the rule we follow is simple: the terminal printed on your ticket is a hint, the live flight data is the answer. On the day, we check which terminal your aircraft is actually assigned to.
How to check yours
Your airline's booking confirmation or app usually shows the terminal. You can also look up your flight number on the Milan Malpensa airport website on the day of travel. If you book a transfer with us, you only need to give us the flight number; we take care of the rest. If the terminal is not shown on your ticket, do not worry, we will find it.
What your driver does
Your driver waits inside the arrivals hall of the terminal your flight uses, past the customs exit, with a sign showing your name. We track the flight from departure, so the driver knows when you land and adjusts if you are early or late. At Malpensa, 60 minutes of waiting from the actual landing are included.
If something changes at the last minute, for example a late terminal change or a diversion, we move with it. The two terminals are close enough by car that a driver can reposition quickly, and you will not be asked to take the airport shuttle with your luggage to find your car.
If you need to move between terminals yourself
Sometimes travellers arrive at one terminal and need to reach the other, for example to meet family on a different flight. A free airport shuttle connects Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. It runs frequently, but with luggage, waiting and the ride it can easily take longer than you expect. If you are being collected by car, it is usually simpler to tell us both flight numbers and let the driver collect everyone from the right place.
Departures: be precise with the terminal
For the return trip, the terminal matters just as much. If you tell us your flight number, we drop you at the right door. If you only tell us the airline, we will confirm the terminal the day before. Arriving at Terminal 2 for a flight that leaves from Terminal 1 is a stressful way to start a journey, and it is completely avoidable.
The drive into Milan from each terminal
From Terminal 1, central Milan is about 50 km, around 50 minutes on the A8 outside the peak. From Terminal 2 the distance and time are almost the same. The bigger variable is traffic around Milan, especially on weekday evenings and during large exhibitions at Fiera Milano Rho.
Heading straight to a lake or to the mountains
Both terminals are equally well placed for Lake Como, Lake Maggiore and Switzerland. From Malpensa, Como is about 50 minutes away and Stresa about an hour. A direct transfer from the terminal is usually faster than going into Milan first.
A greeter at the gate
If you would like someone to meet you before passport control, our Malpensa VIP Arrival adds a personal greeter at the gate, Fast Track where the airport offers it and a porter for your bags. It works at either terminal and can be combined with a car to Milan.