Planespotting Milan — LIMC
Malpensa, 40 km north-west of Milan, is Italy's freight gateway as much as a passenger airport: CargoCity moves well over half a million tonnes a year, so 747 and 777 freighters are part of every day, not a rare treat. On the passenger side easyJet runs its own Terminal 2, and the rest — Ryanair, Wizz Air, Neos, Gulf carriers and transatlantic airlines — use Terminal 1 and its satellites; ITA Airways flies from Linate instead. The two long parallel runways, 17L/35R and 17R/35L, are used almost always in the 35 direction, one for landings and one for take-offs, and the roles swap once a day in the mid-afternoon (roughly 14:30–16:30). That swap decides your day, because the spots are spread around the woods and villages of Ferno and Lonate Pozzolo and a car is the only practical way to follow it. The fence carries sensors: keep your hands and ladder off it.
- EJU56BH A320 15 800 ft
- FDX5233 B763 6 025 ft
- AEA84CA B738 2 950 ft RWY 35L
- VLG9MY A320 1 100 ft RWY 35L
Conditions right now
Runways
- 17L/35L RWY 35L 3,924 × 60 m · 12,874 × 197 ft asphalt
- 17R/35R 3,924 × 60 m · 12,874 × 197 ft asphalt
Ask the sky
What flew over this morning? Where was that loud one heading? Ask in plain words — the answer comes from real recorded traffic.
Airport profile
Typical traffic by hour
Relative intensity by local hour — a typical day, not live data.Peak: 07:00
Typical traffic mix
- Narrowbody66%
- Widebody13%
- Cargo12%
- Bizjet5%
- Turboprop4%
Spotter score
Our editorial rating (0–100).Best time of year
When the interesting traffic peaks.Where to spot
Ferno fence-side parking and hillock (35R)
The best-known Malpensa spot: a small rise next to a car park by the eastern fence, close to runway 35R. From the hillock you shoot landings and departures on 35R without a ladder; with one, walk 100 m north along the gravel track for a lower, closer angle where the bright runway lights the bellies. 35L traffic is visible too, but only with 450 mm+ and through heat haze.
- Getting there
- By car from the A4/SS336 towards Ferno, then follow signs for Vissola and back towards Ferno until the fenced car park. By train: Malpensa Express to Ferno–Lonate Pozzolo station and a 15–20 minute walk. Benches and shade, no shops.
- Best time
- Whichever role 35R has that day, from sunrise until about noon — the sun is in the east behind you.
- Lens
- 100–500 mm; a 747 is about 140 mm on 35R, a Gulfstream nearer 300 mm.
Old crash gate on the western perimeter road (35L arrivals)
A disused crash gate on the road that follows the fence on the west side, a strong afternoon spot for landings on 35L with the heavies filling the frame. Aircraft taxiing to the 35R holding point pass too, but a double fence spoils those shots.
- Getting there
- By car only, continuing along the perimeter road from the Ferno spots; there is room for a couple of cars by the gate. Park tidily — the road is right next to you. Bring water; there is some tree shade.
- Best time
- Landings on 35L from early afternoon to sunset, with the sun in the west.
- Lens
- 110–220 mm; about 116 mm for a 747, 210 mm for a 737.
Via Gaggio, Lonate Pozzolo
An unpaved road in the industrial area of Lonate Pozzolo, south of the runways, where you can choose between both approaches without moving the car far: the dirt track nearby looks onto 35L arrivals, the forest entrance further down onto 35R arrivals. Useful on the day of a runway swap.
- Getting there
- By car from Ferno towards Lonate Pozzolo; at the stop sign turn right and right again into Via Gaggio. Park at the roadside. Popular with cyclists — keep the track clear.
- Best time
- 35L arrivals from sunrise to about noon; 35R arrivals from the forest entrance in the afternoon and evening.
- Lens
- 250–400 mm for 35L, 70–300 mm for 35R.
Via Vittorio Veneto × Via Piemonte, Lonate Pozzolo
A quiet junction under the 35R approach, about 1.5 km on from the Via Gaggio turn-off. It gives an evening side-on angle for 35R landings after the light has gone at the eastern fence. There are houses nearby — stay low-key.
- Getting there
- By car through Lonate Pozzolo; park at the side of the road near the junction. Nothing nearby, some shade from trees.
- Best time
- 35R arrivals from afternoon until sunset.
- Lens
- 200–500 mm; around 230 mm for a 777, 360 mm for an A320.
Between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (35L departures)
The open ground by the car parks between the two terminals, near the Holiday Inn, faces the middle of runway 35L. It is the place for departures: easyJet jets lift off almost in front of you, heavies a little further north. Lamp posts and roofs intrude at the southern end; walk north for a cleaner angle.
- Getting there
- From Terminal 1 follow signs to car park P4 and continue to the next car park; park in the small lay-by by the entrance or use the free spaces near the Holiday Inn. Terminal facilities a short drive away.
- Best time
- Departures on 35L from afternoon to sunset in summer.
- Lens
- 100–300 mm.
Terminal 1 check-in hall windows
Behind the check-in desks of Terminal 1 a long glass front, landside before security, overlooks the ramp between concourses A, B and C and the taxiways to the gates. The tinted glass is a challenge for photos but it is the only sheltered option when it rains.
- Getting there
- Malpensa Express train or bus to Terminal 1; walk behind the check-in rows. No ticket needed.
- Best time
- Any time for logging; afternoon is better for photos.
- Lens
- 70–220 mm; use a rubber lens hood against the glass.
Respect private property, signage and the airport security perimeter. Spotterra predicts the active runway from live weather on the dashboard.
What you'll see
Freighters are the reason to come: Cargolux 747-8Fs and 747-400Fs several times a day, Qatar Airways, Emirates SkyCargo, Turkish Cargo and Ethiopian 777Fs, Silk Way West 747s, plus FedEx, UPS and DHL (AeroLogic 777F) for the express networks. Many arrive late evening and overnight. Passenger volume comes from easyJet's big base, Ryanair, Wizz Air and Neos with its 787s, plus Emirates (including the A380 and the 777 continuing to New York), Qatar, Etihad and US carriers across the Atlantic. Summer adds charters to the Red Sea and Mediterranean.
What actually flew over Milan in the last 30 days
Measured from our own ADS-B data — not a schedule, but what really passed overhead.
- A320 26.3 %
- B738 21.8 %
- A21N 17.1 %
- A319 10.8 %
- A20N 6.9 %
- P208 6.7 %
- B38M 5.2 %
- C172 5.2 %
FAQ
What's that plane over Milan?
Open the Spotterra live map to see each aircraft over Milan and Malpensa as it flies, with type, registration and route — no app install, data from the ADS-B network.
Which runway lands at LIMC today?
Almost always the 35 direction: one parallel for arrivals, the other for departures, and the roles swap once a day between about 14:30 and 16:30. Easyjet often prefers 35R for landing whatever the plan, so check the live map before driving round.
Is there an organised spotting day at Malpensa?
Yes — the Associazione Italiana Amici dell'Aviazione runs supervised spotter days (half-day, full-day and night) with bus transfers to airside positions. Registration and fees change, so check their site before you plan; a yellow hi-vis vest is required.
When do the big freighters come in?
Cargo schedules shift week to week and many heavies arrive late evening or at night. The MXP cargo arrivals board and Spotterra's inbound alerts for cargo types are the reliable way to catch a specific 747-8F.
Spotterra watches the sky over Milan
A live ADS-B map of your area and smart alerts on military transports, warbirds and rare types — with 10–30 minutes lead on long-haul arrivals. Free forever, no card.
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