ITA Adds First-Ever Connection Between Italy and U.S. City

Service will start in May 2026.

An ITA Airways A330neo
An ITA Airways A330neo (Photo: Shutterstock | SimoneAmi)
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

Starting next summer, Italy’s ITA Airways will become the first carrier ever to connect Houston and Rome.

Flights will start on May 1, 2026, the airline announced Tuesday. From May 1 to 31, ITA will operate three weekly flights, on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, before switching to five weekly flights between June 1 and Oct. 24. The five-times weekly service will run on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The route will operate with an Airbus A330-900neo.

ITA connects Rome to 16 other airports in Italy, allowing travelers from the Houston area to explore more of the country beyond the capital once the service is up and running, the carrier said.

Houston will become ITA’s ninth destination in North America. Airline officials have said they consider the U.S. to be ITA’s main international market, and more routes to the U.S. are expected to be added as the carrier integrates into parent company Lufthansa Group and joins the Star Alliance in 2026.

Zach Vasile

Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of commercial aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
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