New Milan–Bilbao Route Boosts Northern Italy’s Direct Links to Spain
Wizz Air will open a new Milan Malpensa–Bilbao service on 11 May 2026, adding another direct Spanish link for northern Italy. The airline plans four weekly flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays using Airbus A321neo aircraft. The launch follows a period of increasing activity at Malpensa, where Wizz Air has become the third-largest carrier by market share and continues to expand through new point-to-point routes.
The city is widely recognised for its mix of contemporary architecture, Basque traditions and strong food culture, making it appealing to visitors who want more than a typical city break.
The city’s transformation around the Guggenheim Museum and its coastal setting make it attractive beyond the typical city break. According to Wizz Air, the route is designed to suit both leisure and business travel, with wider flexibility than weekend-only links thanks to its mid-week and end-of-week schedule pattern.
The new Milan Malpensa–Bilbao connection represents a key milestone in our expansion strategy in Italy, consolidating Wizz Air’s position as a leading operator at the airport. With a network that now includes 42 international routes, we aim to strengthen connectivity to Spain and all Mediterranean countries - an area increasingly in demand among our passengers for its cultural and economic value.
Wizz Air reports that during 2025 it operated around 20,000 flights from Malpensa, up more than 21% year-on-year, and transported nearly 4.2 million passengers. With the addition of Bilbao, the airline now offers 42 routes from Malpensa to 21 countries. This includes longstanding Spanish links such as Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca, positioning the new route as part of a larger Spanish network rather than a standalone seasonal addition.
New Bilbao Service – Key Details
- Starts 11 May 2026
- Four times weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
- Operated by Airbus A321neo aircraft
- One-way fares from €24.99
- Tickets are already available through the airline’s website and app.
The new link improves access to northern Spain without relying on Madrid or Barcelona for connections. Bilbao sits within reach of the Basque Coast, San Sebastián, the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and Rioja Alavesa wine country, making it useful for art-focused weekends, coastal escapes and food-driven itineraries. The timetable also works for short business visits, giving Milan-based workers and regional companies a practical air bridge to one of Spain’s more economically active regions.
Malpensa continues to attract point-to-point growth, and links of this type tend to make trip planning easier in peak periods when connections via major hubs become tight or expensive. If the Bilbao route performs well through summer and early autumn, similar targeted additions may follow on other underserved medium-haul city pairs within Europe.
