Long-haul service expands with Santo Domingo starting November 30 and Caracas starting March 30

ITA Airways celebrates its fifth anniversary today. Five years ago, on October 15, 2021, at 6:20 am, the airline’s first flight took off from Milan-Linate to Bari, operated by an A-320 aircraft featuring a special “Born in 2021” livery. Since then, ITA Airways has grown rapidly, carrying approximately 72 million passengers on over 580,000 scheduled flights and expanding its fleet to 109 airplanes, 75% of which are next-generation models.

 In addition, ITA Airways is currently participating in the "TTG Travel Experience", the international tourism event taking place in Rimini, to present its new offerings for the 2026/2027 Winter season. The airline is located in Pavilion 7, at booth 331-411, which it shares with the Lufthansa Group.

“ITA Airways’ fifth anniversary is an important milestone, allowing us to look back with pride on the journey we’ve taken and, above all, to look forward with confidence to the next stages of our growth”, said Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Manager of ITA Airways. “The results achieved so far attest to the soundness of the path we’ve taken and the trust of our customers. We want to continue building an ITA Airways that is ever stronger and more connected, capable of contributing to the growth of Italian and international tourism and of bringing the quality of our service, our focus on the customer, and the values of our Italian identity to the world. The new intercontinental routes represent only the first step in a broader development and investment plan, shared with the Lufthansa Group, which aims to further strengthen the airline’s network and competitiveness. In this context, the TTG Travel Experience is a strategic event for consolidating our dialogue with trade partners - whom I thank for their crucial contribution to our success - and for jointly developing new partnerships and opportunities for travel and growth in the Italian and international markets”.

 During the 2026/2027 Winter season, ITA Airways will serve 55 destinations, including 16 domestic, 21 international, and 18 intercontinental routes. A highlight is the launch, on November 30, 2026, of the new direct flight from Rome-Fiumicino to Santo Domingo. The new flight, operated with A-330neo aircraft, will depart once a week on Mondays, with a second flight on Sundays, from December 14 through April 5, 2027.

 Special attention will also be given to destinations in the Indian Ocean. During the winter season, the airline will increase its flights to Mauritius from two to three per week, from October 25 through April 5, 2027, to meet the demand for travel to this destination, particularly from Italian tourists. Flights to Malé, in the Maldives, will also be confirmed starting December 16, 2026, and will continue through the Summer until April 5, 2027.

 Looking ahead to Summer 2027, ITA Airways continues to invest in the development of its network with a significant expansion into the intercontinental market thanks to the launch of a new direct route between Rome-Fiumicino and Caracas. Operated with an A-330/900 and set to begin service on March 30, 2027, with three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays), the new route further strengthens the airline’s presence in South America -a market of great strategic importance- and consolidates connections between Italy and the continent. 

 At the same time, starting March 28, 2027, ITA Airways will also launch service between Rome-Fiumicino and Verona with 21 weekly flights, which will strengthen domestic connectivity and provide a region known for its tourism and manufacturing sectors with better access to its network.

 The "TTG" also provides an opportunity to reaffirm the development of synergies with the Lufthansa Group. Codeshare agreements with Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Air Dolomiti have made over 150 new destinations available to passengers, expanding travel opportunities and connectivity to both European and intercontinental markets. Joining the Star Alliance in 2026 has further expanded the benefits for passengers, consolidating Rome-Fiumicino’s role as an international hub that is increasingly integrated into the broader European and global air transport ecosystem.