Easyjet travellers using Milan’s Malpensa airport will find it easier to change flights.

The low-cost carrier (LCC) now offers its “Worldwide by Easyjet” service allowing easy changes between Easyjet flights and flights by Norwegian and Italy’s Neos.  At Malpensa it will use the services of ViaMilano.

It’s similar to that which Easyjet launched at London Gatwick last September.

Easyjet extends Worldwide offering

As readers may know, LCCs have not interlined in the past. That is why this quasi-interlining service is limited, at present, to a couple of carriers.

The airline says that it will “sign up other airlines to ‘Worldwide by easyJet’ in early 2018, with talks already far advanced with middle and far-eastern carriers amongst others.

The airline says it will also plans to expand to other key Easyjet airports in Europe, though it has no released figures of how many passengers have used the service since its launch.

It is unclear whether or not Italian boutique carrier Meridiana (who launches regular transatlantic flights from Malpensa in 2018) will join the scheme. But as you will have read, Meridiana (a conventional carrier) will organise some of its own domestic feeders.

Meridiana to operate regular transatlantic flights

However there are downsides to self-connect.

  • The ViaMilano transfer (as used by Easyjet) is not seamless. Not too difficult if you have only hand luggage. But with checked luggage you must first check to Malpensa, reclaim and then recheck to your final destination.
  • Minimum connecting time is at least two hours and 30 mins. Easyjet says it will not hold flights for late running connections. Passengers who miss connections will be transferred to the next available flight.

Milan Malpensa is a main international gateway both for Northern Italy and nearby Swiss Ticino.

Easyjet.com