ITA expands its Asia presence with two new routes
The United Arab Emirates and Thailand are to become ITA Airways' newest markets, with operations beginning between October and November for the 2024/25 winter season.
The Italian airline announced the expansion of its services in Asia, with the addition of Dubai and Bangkok to its regular route schedule. Regarding DXB, flights will start on October 27th, whilst on November 16th it will launch services to Bangkok, in both cases from/to Rome Fiumicino, ITA’s hub.
According to the press release, ITA Airways will offer seven weekly flights between Rome and Dubai using Airbus A321neo jets configured with three separate cabins: Business Class (12 seats), Premium Economy (12 seats) and Economy (141 seats, including 12 Comfort Economy). ITA’s A321neo aircraft feature new 'Airspace' Cabins.
“The opening of this new Rome – Dubai flight represents a further step forward in our Company’s growth”, said Antonino Turicchi, President of ITA. “In the first four months of 2024, we recorded positive results, even beyond expectations. We carried over 5 million passengers, a 29% increase versus last year, and generated 38% more revenue compared to the same period in 2023 thanks to the performance of the intercontinental sector, which reported revenue growth of more than 50% compared to the first four months of 2023. Our average load factor reached 78%, 3.6 percentage points higher than last year, with peaks of 82% in the intercontinental segment, a result that more than compensated for a slight reduction in average prices. The data are also encouraging for the summer season, when we are expecting a 25% increase in carried passenger numbers compared to last year”.
Schedule between Rome and Dubai
Daily
On the other hand, ITA Airways will fly five times a week on the Rome – Bangkok Suvarnabhumi route from November 16th, as mentioned above.
The operations between Rome and Bangkok, which are already available for sale on the carrier’s website, will be performed with Airbus A330-900neo jets seating 291 passengers. The aircraft’s cabin has 30 Business Class seats, 24 Premium seats and 237 Economy Class seats, of which 36 are dedicated to Comfort Economy. All seats are equipped with on-demand video and audio content, as well as full WiFi connectivity and customisable ambient lighting throughout the cabin.
“Our new Rome – Bangkok connection represents an important step forward in ITA Airways’ development strategy as it adds another intercontinental destination and opens for our passengers the doors to Thailand, a strategic market in terms of leisure tourism and business segment,” said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO of Volare.?
“Bangkok has always been one of the world’s top tourism capitals and an important hub, that allows to reach the most famous paradisiacal destinations in the world thanks to connecting flights with numerous Thai islands. At the same time, it is a key destination for business traffic between the two Countries, a sector in constant growth. The new direct flight also reflects ITA Airways’ commitment to providing optimal travel solutions,” added the CCO, “confirming the importance of developing the intercontinental network in the Company’s commercial strategies.”
Schedule between Rome and Bangkok
Daily except Tuesday and Friday
?Daily except Wednesday and Saturday
ITA Airways routes outside Europe
Algeria
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Argentina
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Brazil
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Canada
?
Egypt
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Ghana
领英推荐
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India
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Israel
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Japan
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Saudi Arabia
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Senegal
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Tunisia
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United States
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ITA serves 57 destinations, including 16 domestic, 19 international and 20 intercontinental. The airline has recently launched new non-stop flights from its Rome Fiumicino hub to Chicago (April), Toronto (May), Riyadh (June), Accra (June) and Dakar (July), with Jeddah opening on August 1st.
As for the fleet, the Italian company has just surpassed the 100 airplanes and plans to add two more in the near future.
The fleet is composed of Airbus aircraft, between 9 different versions.
Green light for Lufthansa Group’s participation in ITA Airways
Competition authority of the European Commission approves the planned acquisition of 41% of Deutsche Lufthansa AG in ITA, for a capital injection of €325 million, already agreed in May 2023.
Following the closing, which will be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, ITA will become the fifth network airline to join the Lufthansa Group, keeping its ITA Airways brand.
Carsten Spohr, Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, says: “The approval from Brussels is excellent news for ITA Airways and Lufthansa and especially for all passengers flying to and from Italy. We look forward to welcoming ITA Airways and its outstanding employees as a new member of our airline family very soon. The decision is also a clear signal for strong air traffic in Europe, which can successfully assert itself in global competition.”