SEA Prime CEO Chiara Dorigotti says international bizjets are returning.
Molly McMillin
Chiara Dorigotti, SEA Prime CEO. Credit: Mark Wagner/Aviation Images
Business airport manager SEA Prime, branded Milano Prime, reports more than 57% growth in traffic so far in 2022, in part driven by international travel which was up 69% so far on last year.
Aircraft traffic has grown in size with 81% of the aircraft larger aircraft.
For the second half of the year drivers are expected to be events—such as Milan’s Fashion Week, Design Week and the Italian Grand Prix in nearby Monza. The full reopening of Milan and Northern Italy to international tourism has brought travelers back, Chiara Dorigotti, SEA Prime CEO, says during a press conference at the company’s EBACE stand.
“Milano in itself, as you know, is not the capital of Italy, but it’s definitely the capital for events,” Dorigotti says. Milano is also a key destination for business aviation customers.
A key opportunity for SEA Prime, is the addition of a new 4,700-m2 hangar at Milano Linate Prime, projected to be operational in 2022, with two additional hangars planned for the future.
The hangar under construction will be large enough to accommodate large aircraft, such as the Boeing BBJ and Airbus ACJ. Construction began in February. It will be the company’s 11th hangar at the airport to date. The $10 million project includes the hangar and expanded apron.
Two additional hangars, each totaling 10,000 m2, are in the company’s master plan and planned for 2024.
“The new hangar—designed for Sirio, our long-standing customer and part of the Directional Aviation Group since 2018—enhances and consolidates the Bombardier Authorized Service Facility, a key milestone in the expansion of Milano Prime’s services,” she says.
Looking forward, the Milano Linate Prime may host one of the first vertiports developed by SEA Group as part of the Advanced Urban Air Mobility project and in view of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
“This is something that our group is looking at very carefully,” Dorigotti says. ”We already have helicopters flying…. We could be the head start for the group. It’s very futuristic maybe, but it’s a business everybody’s looking at. I think when many brilliant heads look at things, I think things happen eventually.”
