Why Milan Malpensa Carries Berlusconi’s Name From Friday

Milan Malpensa, Italy’s second-busiest passenger airport, was officially dedicated to Silvio Berlusconi on Friday, more than two years after the proposal was made and after a court challenge from local governments was rejected. The unveiling of a silver plaque at the airport in Somma Lombardo was attended by Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini and members of Berlusconi’s family.

The late former premier, media tycoon and owner of AC Milan was born and raised in Milan and died in the city in 2023 at age 86. He remains a divisive figure: admired by supporters as a statesman who raised Italy’s international profile, and criticised by opponents as a populist who used public office for private benefit.

The new name covers Milan Malpensa airport, but its IATA code remains MXP. The facility handled 31 million passengers last year, compared with 51 million at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, according to Italy’s aviation authority.

The Legal and Political Fight That Delayed the Dedication

A court decision settled the local dispute

Milan’s City Hall and three nearby Lombardy towns had asked courts to block the dedication when it was announced in 2024. Their argument was twofold: that municipalities, not the civil aviation authority, hold the power to name places, and that Italian law prevents monuments to individuals until 10 years after death. A Lombardy court rejected the challenges as inadmissible in April, clearing the way for the airport to carry Berlusconi’s name.

The naming is a statement about Berlusconi’s political standing

Italy already names major airports after cultural and scientific figures such as Leonardo da Vinci, Marco Polo and Valerio Catullo. Placing Berlusconi alongside them, rather than among purely political figures, is a recognition that his influence extended across media, business and sport. It is also a reminder that, nearly three years after his death, parts of the Italian right still have the political weight to push through a contested dedication.

Berlusconi’s legal record frames the controversy

The opposition to the name reflected broader disagreements about Berlusconi’s legacy. Numerous criminal investigations ended in dismissals, and the only conviction that withstood appeals was a tax fraud case tied to the sale of film rights in his business empire, for which he performed community service. The dedication therefore does not simply honor a former premier; it invites debate over how Italy should commemorate a leader whose career was defined by both political success and legal battles.