**Italy confirms Linate as a short-haul city airport** The Italian government has definitively ruled out long-haul flights from Milan Linate Airport. In the final version of the National Airport Plan (PNA 2026–2035), all references to potential intercontinental services—even in a 100% business-class configuration—have been removed. This confirms that Linate will remain a city airport for European point-to-point flights, while Milan Malpensa retains its monopoly on regular long-haul routes. **Regulatory framework: the Giovannini decree** The decision is rooted in the so-called "Giovannini" decree of 1 September 2022, which strictly limits Linate to point-to-point flights using single-aisle aircraft (such as the A220, A320, or Boeing 737) on routes within the European Union or countries with EU agreements, and within a maximum radius of 1,500 km. The decree also caps movements at 18 per hour. Any change to these restrictions would require a formal amendment to the decree, subject to European Commission approval—a lengthy and uncertain process. For ATPL and ATC students, this case illustrates how national and EU regulations shape airport capacity and route networks, directly affecting flight planning and airspace management. **Political and operational context** The reversal follows political pressure from local stakeholders, including Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti (elected in the province of Varese, home to Malpensa) and SEA CEO Armando Brunini, who argued that the dual-airport system has proven effective. Malpensa handles intercontinental traffic, while Linate serves high-frequency business routes. This division is a classic example of airport slot coordination and capacity management—topics central to ATPL and ATC training. **Broader implications for Italian aviation** The PNA 2026–2035 aims to boost Italy's airport capacity to 305 million passengers annually by 2035, up from around 230 million in 2025. Investments of about €1.2 billion are planned for rail links to regional airports like Bergamo, Olbia, Verona, and Venice. For aviation students, this highlights the interplay between airport infrastructure, regulatory constraints, and traffic growth—a recurring theme in operational planning and air traffic flow management. **What this means for ATPL and ATC students** This news underscores how regulatory decisions directly impact route structures, slot availability, and airspace design. Understanding the Giovannini decree and similar frameworks is essential for pilots planning flights into Milan's airports and for controllers managing arrivals and departures in a constrained multi-airport system.