Il Caravaggio International Airport, officially named after the Renaissance painter Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio who was born near Bergamo, serves as one of the primary airports for the Milan metropolitan area alongside Malpensa and Linate. Located in Orio al Serio in the Bergamo province of Lombardy, it handles tens of millions of passengers annually and is one of Italy's busiest airports. The airport is a major hub for Ryanair, which operates a large base there, making it a central node in the low-cost carrier network across Europe. Its proximity to Milan, approximately 45 kilometres from the city centre, has made it a popular alternative to Milan's other airports, particularly for budget travellers. Despite its relatively modest size compared to Milan Malpensa, Orio al Serio has grown significantly since the expansion of low-cost aviation in Europe, handling routes to numerous European destinations and select international points.