ITA Airways Launches New Houston Route as US-Italy Air Traffic Soars

The announcement this week that ITA Airways will introduce a new route from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Houston, Texas (IAH)1,335 flights connecting the two countries, offering over 377,000 seats.

Top Routes Connecting the US and Italy

According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the route from New York JFK to Rome Fiumicino stands out as the most frequented corridor this month. It is one of only two routes between the US and Italy with more than 100 round trips scheduled in December. ITA Airways operates 60 flights on this route, maintaining two daily rotations on all but two days of the month, utilizing its Airbus A330, A330neo, and A350 fleets.

From the US side, Delta Air Lines mirrors this frequency with double-daily flights throughout December, except for December 2. Delta employs its A330 family, covering 44 rotations with the A330-900 and 17 rotations with the A330-300. Additionally, Norse Atlantic provides twice-weekly services on the same route with its Boeing 787, further increasing accessibility to Rome. Bjorn Tore Larsen, CEO of Norse Atlantic, expressed optimism about these flights, stating, “Whether traveling for business or pleasure, we hope this gives customers an incentive to finally book that trip to one of the most beautiful cities on earth.”

Milan Also Attracts Travelers from New York

The corridor from New York JFK to Milan Malpensa (MXP) is another significant route, featuring 106 flights in each direction this December. Although ITA Airways does not operate on this route, it remains competitive with four airlines offering services. Notably, Emirates has entered the market, operating daily flights with its Airbus A380. Delta Air Lines also maintains a daily presence, flying Boeing 767-400ER aircraft.

American Airlines and Norse Atlantic round out the operators on this route, with each offering daily flights using wide-bodied aircraft. While Norse Atlantic provides three flights per week to Milan, United Airlines adds further capacity with a daily rotation from Newark (EWR), primarily employing Boeing 787s. Boutique carrier La Compagnie also serves this route with its all-premium A321neo aircraft.

Beyond these two major routes, several other US-Italy connections will see more than daily flights this month. Delta dominates the Atlanta (ATL) to Rome route, operating up to twice daily with its A330-900 fleet, totaling 53 outbound and 54 inbound flights. Meanwhile, ITA Airways offers up to 10 flights per week from Miami (MIA) to Rome, utilizing its A330-900 and A350-900 aircraft.

In summary, the growing number of flights connecting the US and Italy underscores a robust demand for transatlantic travel. The introduction of new routes, such as ITA Airways’ service to Houston, reflects a dynamic and evolving aviation landscape between these two culturally rich nations.