The Italian skies are set to witness a historic revival. Neos Air, the Italian airline based at Milan Malpensa Airport, is ready to bridge the United States and Southern Italy with a seasonal connection. Starting in the summer of 2024, Neos Air plans to schedule a bi-weekly flight between Palermo and New York-JFK, as most recently reported by industry watchdog Enilria.
This route, which Alitalia last operated until the mid-1970s with the Boeing 747, symbolizes a return and an expansion of the current offerings to New York, primarily focused on three frequencies from Milan Malpensa. The planned flights, operating with the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, are set for Tuesdays and Sundays, departing from Palermo International Airport (Punta Raisi) at 11:25 and landing at JFK Airport at 14:50 local time. The return flights from New York are scheduled for Saturdays and Mondays, taking off at 17:00 and arriving in Palermo early the following day.
A Revived Connection
The announcement of this new route came after the intentions to re-establish the connection between the Sicilian capital and the Big Apple were made public in May by Vito Riggio, CEO of Gesap, the company managing Punta Raisi Airport. Initially, there were discussions with United Airlines to operate the route. However, Neos Air recently announced its intention to take on the connection.
The first flight is slated for Sunday, June 9, 2024. Currently, the tickets are being sold at competitive prices, with the Economy promo fare offering standard seating, an eight kg cabin baggage allowance, and meals. The airline aims to transport approximately 20,000 passengers during the summer of 2024, as per Carlo Stradiotti, CEO of Neos Air. This new connection is a significant development opportunity for leisure and business travel between Italy and the United States. The last seasonal flight will be scheduled on September 27, 2024.
Moreover, this venture isn’t limited to passenger travel. Neos Air also intends to use this route for cargo transportation, offering up to 10 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. This diversification into cargo transportation, which gained momentum during the pandemic, marks strategic growth for the airline in terms of volume and revenue and in expanding its range of products and services.
This ambitious plan by Neos Air represents a significant step in the airline’s ongoing growth strategy, showcasing a commitment to enhancing connectivity and providing diverse travel and transport options.
