Early years

Aviation activities on the site of today's Malpensa Airport began on 27 May 1910, when the Caproni brothers flew a Cal biplane. In the following years, many aircraft prototypes took off from the same site; eventually, it was decided to upgrade the farming patch to a more formal airfield. Both Gianni Caproni and Giovanni Agusta established factories on the new site; the airfield soon developed into the largest aircraft production centre in Italy. During the 1920s and 1930s, the airfield hosted two squadrons of the Regia Aeronautica Italiana (Italian Air Force). It was for advanced flight training held by an air bombing and gunnery school.

In September 1943, Malpensa airfield was taken over by the Luftwaffe after northern Italy was invaded by Nazi Germany. Soon after their arrival, the Germans laid the airfield's first concrete runway. It was designated as Flugpatz 368 by the Luftwaffe and ANR Aeroporto N. 6 by the Regia Aeronautica, and was known by a number of names including Gallarate, Gallarate-Malpensa, Cascina-Malpensa, Cascina Costa, Vizzola Ticono, Gaspare Bolla, Adalberto Campaci, and Luigi Bailo. The airfield was split into three sides, which was the Malpensa side on the north, Cascina Costa side on the east, and Vizolla Ticono side on the west. This design was done intentionally to give the impression of three airfields to Allied forces. On the Vizolla Ticono side, a distribution and maintenance depot was installed for Bf 109 fighters, and it was also used by the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana. There were 3 medium hangars and 5 buildings for repair workshops and stores. On the Gallarate side, there were 3 large hangars were on the northern boundary, and 1 large and 1 medium hangars on the western boundary. On the Cascina Costa side, there were 2 medium hangars and 2 buildings for workshops.

After the cessation of hostilities during the Second World War, manufacturers and politicians of the Milan and Varese regions, led by banker Benigno Ajroldi of Banca Alto Milanese, restored the airfield. They aimed to make it an industrial fulcrum for the post-war recovery of Italy. The main runway, heavily damaged by German troops as they retreated from northern Italy, was rebuilt and extended to 1,800 m (5,900 ft). A small wooden terminal was constructed to protect goods and passengers from bad weather.

2010s

Responding to Alitalia's pullout, the operator SEA launched an all-out publicity programme and aggressively marketed Malpensa Airport around the world. As a result, from 2008 to 2011, a total of 34 new passenger and cargo routes were added to Malpensa's network.

The low-cost carrier EasyJet made Malpensa its main base after London Gatwick, with more than 20 of its Airbus A319s and Airbus A320s based there. Competitor Ryanair confirmed plans to open an operating base at Malpensa from December 2015, initially with one aircraft.

In 2014, a contract was awarded for the extension of the railway line from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The line was opened in December 2016. The new Malpensa Terminal 2 railway station is 200 m (660 ft) north of the T2 arrivals hall, that is accessed by an outdoor covered walkway.

2020s

On 5 July 2024, Italian minister of infrastructure and transport Matteo Salvini announced that Malpensa Airport would officially be named after former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, following ENAC's approval of a request by the regional government of Lombardy from 2023. ENAC officially changed the name to Aeroporto internazionale Milano Malpensa "Silvio Berlusconi" on 11 July 2024.

On 20 August 2025, the airport was partially evacuated after a man set fire to a check-in area and attacked digital screens with a hammer before being subdued and detained.