On Wednesday March 11th ………….. news from Italy

The news from Italy continues to exercise my thoughts, not least for the family caught in the middle of the lockdown, and for those who are waiting to board what might be one of the last “rescue” flights out of Malpensa by Easy Jet later today.

When other airlines have cut all flights in and out Easy Jet continues to maintain a service to get people back.

I say that, but in a fast-moving situation there are conflicting messages about whether it will take off or be delayed until tomorrow.

Yesterday I watched as Terminal 1 at Malpensa was closed, and a heap of flights were cancelled and fell off the screen.

Today there are no departures or arrivals listed, and I am told that Terminal 2 will also close on Friday, with just whatever flights out are left transferring to T1.

And the airport looks very empty and very quiet, with all but essential shops closed.

As for the bigger picture I read that The Prime Minister,  Giuseppe Conte, has announced that "No foreclosure on more restrictive measures, but no to emotional requests", while the President of European Union in a conference link to EU leaders has said, "We will use all means to ensure that the European economy overcomes this storm," "Act immediately or it will be like the great crisis of 2008" *

Leaving me just to note that as of 11.40 Malpensa announced that "Boarding was completed"  on the Easy Jet flight.

Location; Italy

Pictures; Malpensa Airport, today at 10 am.

*la Repubblica, Wednesday March 11th, 2020