The three-month closing of Italy’s Milan Linate Airport (LIN) beginning in July has ExecuJet preparing to handle a record number of aircraft movements in southern Switzerland, the unit of Luxaviation Group announced today. ExecutJet’s co-branded FBO at Lugano Airport (LUG) is expected to take traffic diverted from LIN.

“Our FBO at Lugano Airport is ideally located for travelers who might be affected by the closure of Milan Linate Airport this summer,” Luxaviation Group business development executive Gary Forster said. “Situated in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland, bordering Italy, it’s just 40 minutes by car from central Milan. Alternatively, we offer fast-track helicopter transfers directly from the airfield. Facing this situation our goal is to increase our footprint in Ticino and northern Italy together with the local Luxaviation branch in Lugano.”

In December, ExecuJet announced its FBO partnership with LUG. It plans to offer a 50 percent discount on handling tariffs for flights to LUG with no slot restrictions. “To help facilitate the anticipated spike in movements from July, Lugano Airport has launched a new website, with guidance for pilots and crews on navigating the steep take-off and landings required by the airport’s mountainous surroundings,” Forster added.

LIN announced in the fall that the airport would close from July 27 to October 27 for runway maintenance and “airport restyling.”