New easyJet base at Linate

New destinations include Barcelona, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Lisbon, Luxembourg,  Oslo and Vienna, many of which have not yet been served by Linate. The expansion also includes summer destinations such as  Figari, Ibiza, Split and Tenerife, to which Gran Canaria will be added from this autumn.

easyjet's Linate base joins those already active at Malpensa, Fiumicino and Naples, bringing the number of aircraft based in Italy to 38. With over 250 routes operated to and from 19 Italian airports in the 2025 summer season, easyJet confirms Italy as the second European market after the United Kingdom.

This new opening reinforces a history that goes back a long way: Malpensa was the airline's first Italian base, inaugurated in March 2006, and over the last fifteen years it has grown to become easyJet's operational heart in continental Europe. But the relationship with Milan began even earlier: the first flight from Linate dates back to 2003 with the route to London, a sign of a deep bond with the city airport. Today, with the new base and an increasingly extensive network of connections, easyJet consolidates its structural presence in Linate, bringing to Milan an accessible, modern alternative that is strongly integrated with the territory.

The inauguration of the new easyJet base at Milan Linate airport was attended by the main institutional and airport authorities, who underlined the strategic value of the operation for the economic, employment and tourist development of the area.

 

Attilio Fontana, President of the Lombardy Region, highlighted how the new easyJet base fits perfectly into the region's growth and attractiveness trajectory:
" Lombardy is today one of the most important regions in Europe, certainly the first in terms of attracting investments and job opportunities. In this context, international connections are essential to continue to grow. 

easyJet's choice to invest in Linate goes exactly in this direction and represents a strong signal. We thank the company for this decision which will certainly have a positive impact on our territory."

 

Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, underlined the distinctive characteristics of the city:
"Milan is a city where more than 21% of residents are of foreign origin. We welcome people who arrive every day for necessity or work, including many professionals, managers, lawyers and financial operators who travel regularly. Tourism is constantly growing: last year we recorded a +6.3% of arrivals. Milan remains the economic and financial capital of the country, and its geographical position is strategic. EasyJet not only brings new flights, but also new jobs. At a time of great debate on the Milan model, there is one point on which we can all agree: work is central and those who create it deserve support"

 

Armando Brunini, CEO of SEA Aeroporti di Milano, reiterated easyJet's role as a historical partner of the Milan airport system:
"This opening demonstrates easyJet's willingness to continue to invest not only in Lombardy, but also in our airport system. We are proud that it has chosen to strengthen its presence at Linate, consolidating a leadership that has lasted for over 20 years. Ours is a long-standing relationship, born with the opening of the Malpensa base in 2006. With the new base at Linate, easyJet confirms its central role among the more than 100 airlines operating in our airports. This, for us, is much more than a new basis: it is a concrete sign of confidence and perspective for the future."

 

 

Also highlighting the strategic importance of the investment in Linate was Kenton Jarvis, easyJet's CEO, who illustrated the company's vision for the Italian market and Milan's central role in the carrier's European network.

 

Kenton Jarvis said:
"The opening of our new base at Linate is an important step for easyJet. For the first time, we can offer low-cost flights from this airport on a large scale, bringing our affordable travel model to an airport historically dominated by traditional carriers. Linate has a great advantage: it is one of the best connected airports to the city center thanks to its proximity to the subway, and that is why it represents a strategic choice for us.

 

This base allows us to serve markets not covered by Linate until now, such as Lisbon, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, but also to strengthen our commitment to Italy, a country where our presence has grown steadily since the first flight operated in 1998. Today Italy is our first market in continental Europe in terms of aircraft based. We expect to carry over 21 million passengers a year on 260 routes and, for summer 2025 alone, we have activated 41 new destinations, 17 of which from Linate.

 

 

With five aircraft based here and three at Fiumicino, we arrive at 38 aircraft distributed between our four Italian bases: Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino and Naples. This allows us to offer even wider connectivity and meet the needs of Italian passengers.

Thanks to this new hub at Linate, together with our consolidated presence at Malpensa, we want to contribute even more incisively to economic and territorial development. And as we approach our 30th anniversary as an airline, we are proud to remain true to our original mission: to make air travel more democratic, easier, accessible and reliable for all."

 

 

Alessandro Spada, President of Assolombarda and easyJet also presented the data of a study carried out by Assolombarda Servizi, which certify a significant economic impact: in 2024 alone, the company generated 1.1 billion euros in spending by tourists arriving in Lombardy, with a total added value of 892.4 million and over 11,400 jobs activated along the supply chain.

Lorenzo Lagorio, easyjet's Country Manager for Italy, outlined the path that led the company to achieve the results presented and illustrated the strategy behind growth in Lombardy:

 

"The results we have shared today are not the result of chance, but the result of work built over the years. We have always believed in the potential of Lombardy. Our history at Malpensa began in 2006, and it is from there that we have grown to become the first operator today. We currently have 22 aircraft based at Malpensa (including A319, A320 and A321neo) and over 70 active routes, ranging from major Italian and European cities to tourist destinations and new destinations such as North Africa or Georgia. 

 

Malpensa remains our parent company in Italy. The investment in Linate is different and complementary: here we operate in an airport with limited slots and a strong business vocation. We have based 5 aircraft and we focus on high-demand European routes, designed for a target that includes not only tourists but also professionals, managers and frequent travelers. 

In summer we also offer connections to leisure destinations such as the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands and Corsica".

"Our model is that of a modern low-cost airline: efficient, with point-to-point operations and intensive fleet utilization, which allows us to offer competitive fares. But easyJet is also very attentive to the quality of the passenger experience. Our goal is to offer a simple, fast, comfortable journey.