Story ID: 522
Milano Prime Sees Traffic Rise
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: With the lone FBO at Italy's busiest airport in hand, the company begins a sister faciilty at Milano Malpensa Airport.
Word Count: 260
SEA Prime—which operates Milano Linate Prime, the FBO at Milan Linate Airport—expects to complete construction on a sister location at the city’s Malpensa Airport by May 2019. The company already operates a 5,000-sq-m (53,820-sq-ft) hangar there, which can accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets, and it is building a new 1,400-sq-m (15,000-sq-ft) polyhedron-shaped terminal, which will be visible and recognizable from any direction both on the ground and in the air. The FBO will also have an expanded, dedicated 50,000-sq-m (536,000-sq-ft) apron.

Last year, SEA Prime noted a net profit increase of 10 percent over 2016, reflecting the recovery in the European business aviation sector, according to the company. Milano Linate Prime saw more than 21,000 movements last year, an increase of 2.7 percent year-over-year, making it the busiest FBO in Italy, and among the leaders in Europe.

“Milano Prime has proven to be an increasingly attractive partner for national and international players, who choose us to develop their business,” said general manager Chiara Dorigotti. “This pushes us to further improve and expand the range of services offered to our customers, also by building new, dedicated infrastructures.” As such, she noted the company has pledged to invest another €21 million ($24.4 million) in the two locations over the next five years.

Next year, the company plans to add a 4,000-sq-m (43,000-sq-ft) hangar at Linate, its 11th, bringing it to 28,000 sq m (301,000 sq ft) of under-roof space. Earlier, helicopter maker Leonardo added a maintenance base at the FBO, providing dedicated line service for the AW109 and AW139.