China Eastern Airlines boosts its network to Europe, opening sales for new flights from Shanghai Pudong to Milan and Copenhagen.

From Shanghai and X’ian to Malpensa Airport

The Chinese airline, which already operates at Malpensa Airport with a route from Xi'an that opened in September 2024, will operate the new flights from Shanghai starting on 20 June. The flights will be daily and an Airbus A350-900 will be used on the route.

Copenhagen will also enter the European network

Copenhagen will be a new addition to the European network and will become China Eastern's 15th destination in Europe, including destinations in Russia. The flight to the Danish capital will begin on 17 July and will operate three times a week with an A330-200.

Nine Chinese cities are linked by air to Milan Malpensa

Milan Malpensa Airport is currently connected by direct flights from nine Chinese cities: Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wenzhou, Xi'an and Zhengzhou. China Eastern's latest additions precede the imminent launch of the Shanghai-Geneva flight, scheduled for 16 June with four weekly connections. The carrier is also increasing frequencies on another Italian route, with Shanghai-Venice flights which will rise to four weekly flights to a service that was inaugurated last September.

A new direct service between the city of Florence and Pisa airport will be launched on Thursday 1 May.

The buses depart from the centre of Florence Bus4Fly is a service developed in partnership between Tiemme, Busitalia Rail Service and Florentia Bus. The service will depart from Piazzale Montelungo, in the centre of Florence, and arrive at Galileo Galilei Airport, in Piazzale D'Ascanio.

Six return journeys daily

This is an experimental project which, in this initial phase, will offer six return journeys per day. Departures from Florence are scheduled at 7:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., while departures from Pisa Airport are scheduled at 9:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Starting in June, the service will be gradually expanded based on initial user feedback.

One large piece of luggage and a small bag

The buses are modern, comfortable and equipped with free Wi-Fi and air conditioning. Free luggage transport is also included, with the possibility of bringing one large piece of luggage (70x50x30 cm up to 30 kg) and one small piece of luggage (55x40x20 cm up to 10 kg) per passenger.

Tickets are also available online

Bus4Fly tickets, starting at €3.99, are already available and can be purchased online, on board (cashless, subject to availability), at the Sightseeing Experience ticket office inside Florence's Santa Maria Novella station and at the ticket office inside Pisa's Galilei airport.

Tickets for easyJet flights on the new 27 October route connecting Seville to Milan Malpensa have been on sale since 9 April.

Two weekly flights from Seville

The route will be operational from 27 October, with two flights a week on Mondays and Fridays. With the introduction of the new route to Seville, easyJet will connect Milan and two main cities in Andalusia, including Malaga, where the company operates two daily flights in summer.

A total of 16 flights from Spain to Milan

After the opening of the new routes to Linate from Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, the company continues to invest in connections with Spain, bringing the total number of routes between Spain and Milan to 16.

easyJet operates to 73 destinations from Lombardy

easyJet also continues to strengthen its offer from Malpensa airport, the airline’s main base in continental Europe, bringing the number of destinations reachable from the Lombardy airport to 73.

The Bwh Nevada in San Vito di Cadore is the latest addition to the Bwh Hotels Italia & Malta group. 

The new hotel is close to Cortina d’Ampezzo

Located a few kilometres from Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the hotel the company is strengthening its offer in the area of the upcoming Winter Olympics.

Bwh Nevada

A 3-star with 31 rooms and ski and bicycle storage

The property, managed by the Stay group, is a 3-star seasonal hotel at the foot of the Antelao and Pelmo mountains. Recently renovated, it has 31 rooms, a breakfast room, bar, ski and bicycle storage and an open-air car park. “The acquisition of this property is an important step for us, especially in view of the upcoming Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympics,” says Fabrizio Doria, chief development officer BWH Hotels Italia & Malta

ItaliAbsolutely spoke with Marco Sansiviero, president of Fenailp Turismo of the Fenailp trade union about the trade federation’s vision for 2025 (Fenailp is the National Federation representing entrepreneurs and professionals across all sectors of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises).

What markets are you targeting and with which products?

“We are targeting markets such as Germany, France, Northern Europe and the United States where there is a strong demand for authentic experiences linked to culture, nature, food and wine. We are also looking at emerging markets like South America and South-East Asia, which are showing great interest in lesser-visited Italian destinations.” 

How is the domestic market responding?

“Domestic tourism remains fundamental, also as a lever for deseasonalization and the discovery of lesser-known inland areas. After the pandemic Italians rediscovered the beauty of their own regions, and today they are especially interested in staycations, cultural and experiential tourism.”

What are your aims for 2025?

For 2025 we will be working on four main trajectories The first is innovation and digitalization, to facilitate the matching of supply and demand and improve competitiveness Then we are enhancing minor territories and destinations by setting up DMOs. Training and qualification of operators is another essential aim, and so is environmental and economic sustainability because the tourism of the future will have to be responsible, inclusive and attentive to the needs of the territory.

Which markets do you consider as the most strategic?

Some traditional markets like Russia and part of the Middle East have slowed down, but we are seeing growing interest from the United States, Canada and Asia with South Korea, Japan and India in the forefront. Today strategic markets are seeking authenticity, safety, sustainability and beauty ad authenticity rather than mass-produced Italy.

How much is individual tourism and how much organized?

Individual tourism is constantly growing thanks to digitalization but organized and group tourism linked to food and wine, cultural tours and senior tourism continues to play an important role, also because it stretches throughout the year.

What are your future strategies?

They are based on a strong alliance between the public and private sectors, and on strengthening DMOs for marketing, promotion and territorial planning. And we will focus on digitalization, the internationalization of smaller destinations and innovative ways of presenting  Italy to attract new global tourists who are looking for excitement, authenticity and value for money.

L’Odyssey, the new French regional aviation company is entering Italian skies with new and exclusive direct connections from France and Switzerland.

Launching flights on 29 and 30 May 2025

From 29 May flights to Florence from Geneva and Tours will operate twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays. Then, from 30 May, services to Milan Bergamo from Nice and Tours will operate twice weekly on Fridays and Mondays. All flights will be operated with a 50-seater Saab 2000.

Tickets are available with the Q4 code

The Saab aircraft used by L’Odyssey are operated by the Swedish carrier Frost Air. They are designed for regional transport, and offer a comfortable and fast flight experience, combined with low fuel consumption that reduces the carbon footprint. Tickets are already available on the company's website or at travel agencies with the code Q4. Thanks to the aviation broker's proposals, it will be even easier for travellers to reach Milan and Florence from the French Riviera and Switzerland.

A coup for the Legend Collection by Preferred, with the addition of the Armani Hotel Milano to the Preferred soft brand. 

Located in Milan's fashion district

The result of a collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties, this boutique hotel is located in Milan's fashion district, in the historic Manzoni 31 building, a short walk from the city's most iconic landmarks such as the Teatro alla Scala opera house and the Cathedral.

An Armani Spa and Armani Restaurant

The property has 95 rooms, with rationalist architecture blending with Armani's signature design. Guests will also find services such as dedicated lifestyle managers, and access to facilities such as the Armani Restaurant which offers contemporary Italian cuisine. Then there is the Armani Spa with tailor-made treatments, panoramic views of the city, six treatment rooms, a suite for couples, steam room, sauna and a relaxation pool as well as a fitness centre with a Kinesis wall and personal trainers.

“The hotel perfectly embodies the essence of the collection”

“We are delighted to welcome the Armani Hotel Milano to our Legend Collection,- said Roberta Possenti, vice president Europe Preferred Hotels & Resorts. -The hotel perfectly embodies the essence of the collection with its elegance, service and exceptional guest experience. We look forward to introducing this extraordinary urban sanctuary in the heart of Milan to our guests from all over the world.”

United Airlines is focusing on Rome and looking at a +16% capacity rise for the summer peak.

Stepping-up flights from the US to Rome

The US airline is increasing its offer to the Italian capital, starting with the New York Newark flights which, operated all year round, will increase from one to two daily flights up to 2 December 2025 (extending the second flight with respect to the date of 25 October 2025). In addition the seasonal direct flight from Washington D.C. to Rome will be operational all year round, eliminating the planned interruption of service from 6 January to 19 February 2026 (a period during which four weekly flights will operate).

Passengers will benefit from more trave options

There are also seasonal flights from Chicago O'Hare to Fiumicino Airport which will be operational up to 19 December 2025 (extended from the scheduled date of 2 December 2025). During the winter season passengers travelling to Rome will benefit from more travel options and greater connectivity through United Airlines' hubs in New York/Newark, Washington D.C. and Chicago O'Hare to destinations across the Americas.

The first Denver-Rome flight on 2 May 2025

The countdown has begun for the announced take-off of the first direct flight from Denver to Rome, scheduled for 2 May. United Airlines is the first and only airline to operate a non-stop service between these two destinations. All things considered, during the 2025 summer peak the carrier will offer over 16% more seats to Rome, guaranteeing seven daily flights from the United States.

The 2024/2025 winter season in Pila drew to a close on a positive note on 13th April with results that confirm the resort as one of the most popular destinations in the Aosta Valley. 

Foreign visitors grew by 10% 

Thanks to its varied offering and the quality of its infrastructure, Pila has welcomed thousands of Italian and foreign visitors, consolidating its role among the most popular destinations in the Alps. The season just ended with a particularly positive January. According to regional data, the non-hotel sector recorded an increase of 15%, while foreign visitors grew by 10%. Pila also benefited from this trend, thanks to its 70 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes, the new Couis 1 cable car and complementary experiences such as snowshoeing and snow parks.

The Italian Mountain Call for Proposals: a step towards the future

Among the achievements of the winter season is the €701.000 in funds from the Italian Mountain Call for Proposals for the development of tourism in theAosta, Gressan and Charvensod areas. The project aims to improve existing infrastructure, create new sustainable tourist products and enhance local traditions. The Espace de Pila Consortium aims to create a single destination that brings together the historical and cultural heritage of Aosta, the outdoor experiences of Pila and the rural and food and wine traditions of Gressan and Charvensod.  

Pila Bikeland:  an outdoor summer in the mountains

From 21 June to 7 September, Pila will be transformed into Pila Bikeland, a summer paradise dedicated to mountain bikers and outdoor enthusiasts. With downhill and freeride trails, e-bike excursions, trekking routes and an adventure park surrounded by nature, the resort will offer experiences for sports enthusiasts, families and mountain lovers. Summer rates are already available on the website www.pila.it.

RunThrough Trails: the summer event not to be missed

With the end of the winter season, Pila is preparing for a summer full of excitement. One of the most eagerly awaited events is the RunThrough Trails, which will be held on 27 and 28 June 2025. This international trail running event offers three spectacular routes (50 kms, 21 kms and the Up & Down Race), giving athletes the opportunity to run while enjoying the breathtaking scenery of the Aosta Valley Alps.