Italy’s second-busiest airport has been officially renamed after the late former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a process that lasted over two years and included legal disputes. The ceremony took place at Milan Malpensa Airport, now officially called Milan Malpensa Silvio Berlusconi Airport, with a silver plaque unveiled in honor of the late leader. Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini and members of Berlusconi’s family attended the event. The airport, located in the industrial heart of Italy, handled 31 million passengers last year, significantly less than Rome’s international airport, which saw 51 million travelers. Berlusconi, who was born and raised in Milan, built a powerful media empire there and was also the owner of the renowned AC Milan soccer team. He passed away in the city in 2023 at the age of 86. When the decision to name the airport after him was announced in 2024, it faced opposition. Milan’s City Hall filed a lawsuit to block the dedication, and three nearby towns in the Lombardy region also challenged the decision. They argued that cities, not the national civil aviation authority, should have the power to name places and that Italian law prohibits monuments to individuals until 10 years after their death. In April, a Lombardy court ruled against the towns, stating their challenges were not valid and allowing the airport’s renaming to proceed. The airport will retain its IATA code, MXP, for identification in flight schedules and other aviation systems. Berlusconi, who served as Prime Minister for much of the 1990s and 2000s, was a polarizing figure in Italian politics. Some saw him as a charismatic leader who elevated Italy’s international profile, while others criticized him as a populist who used political influence for personal benefit. Berlusconi was involved in multiple legal cases, though most were dismissed. Investigations looked into his so-called “bunga bunga” parties, which involved young women and minors, as well as his business dealings. The only conviction that stuck was for tax fraud related to the sale of movie rights in his media empire, for which he performed community service. Other major Italian airports are named after notable historical figures, such as Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport, Venice’s Marco Polo Airport, and Verona’s airport, named after the Roman poet Valerius Catullus.