The exodus from Malpensa to Linate continues: after KLM, Austrian Airlines also ditches the Varese airport and moves to the city airport
The exodus of airlines from Malpensa to Linate continues. Since last March 30, Dutch KLM has permanently left the second [...]
Austrian Airlines
Star Alliance
VIE
Airline exodus from Malpensa to Linate continues..
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As of last March 30, Dutch KLM has permanently left Italy's second largest airport by passenger traffic, also moving the last of its daily connections between Amsterdam and Malpensa to the city airport. On that same day, Air France has increased its daily frequencies between Paris and Milan from 9 to 10, adding one to Linate.
In the past few hours. Austrian Airlines has, she as well, communicated that with the start of Winter 2025-2026 next October 26 will leave Malpensa and transfer all its operations to Linate, taking advantage of four pairs of slots not used by ITA Airways at that airport. As the Austrian carrier points out in a statement, "Linate is much closer to the city, which results in much shorter transfer times to and from the airport."
In the coming Winter, Austrian will fly 26 times a week between its Vienna hub and Linate with a mix of Airbus A320s and Embraer ERJ-195s. What is puzzling is that the company has officially announced the move from one to the other Milanese airport, but by going to its website and trying to book a flight (for example) on October 27, all flights are still now given as departing from Malpensa.
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From Linate it will take off daily except Sunday at 7.20 a.m., daily at 10 a.m., daily except Saturday at 5.15 p.m. and daily at 8.40 p.m. From Vienna, operations will include a daily flight at 7:50 a.m., a daily flight except Saturday at 3:05 p.m., a daily flight at 6:30 p.m. and a daily flight except Saturday at 8:35 p.m.
Considered ITA Airways' entry into the Lufthansa Group. e The agreements already in place between ITA and group airlines on codeshare and loyalty programs, the 'move' closely affects Northern Italian passengers enrolled in the Volare program.
Austrian's news for the upcoming winter season extends beyond the Milan hub: Indeed, the Viennese carrier has announced that rotations to Rome Fiumicino will increase to 18 weekly, with some days seeing three frequencies between Vienna and Rome where, the company points out, "the network of the new 'sister airline' provides numerous connections to North and South America as well as Asia, all available through codeshare agreements."
