ITA Airways is innovating and strengthening its distribution model, and from 5 May the airline’s content will be available on NDC.

Aligning with other airlines in the Lufthansa Group

Moving its content to the indirect channel, means aligning itself with other airlines in the Lufthansa Group: From 5 May 2026, the airline’s most competitive fares will therefore be available to IATA/ARC agents with ITA Airways ticketing authority, via the group’s NDC solution.

Access to fares, offers and services

The NDC distribution model offers customers competitive fares, access to exclusive offers and the option of personalized packages, including additional services such as seat selection, extra baggage and upgrades, thereby enhancing the overall booking experience and service standards.

“Paving the way for new opportunities”

Adopting the Lufthansa Group’s distribution approach will allow travel agents to access ITA Airways’ NDC content quickly and easily. It also enables the airline to implement technological standards common to the rest of the group’s carriers, benefiting from best practices established through Lufthansa’s experience. “This development is a further step in ITA Airways’ evolution towards a modern, flexible and increasingly customer-value-oriented digital distribution model, paving the way for new opportunities through integration with the industry’s most advanced technologies,” said Emiliana Limosani, the airline’s chief commercial, network and incentive management officer.

ITA Airways has made some changes to its flight schedule in light of the ongoing conflict in Iran, with updates on flights to the Middle East and India. 

Flights are suspended and reduced

In a statement on its website the airline explains that “In view of the current situation in the Middle East, the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv has been extended until 2 April (including flight AZ809 on 3 April).” The airline has also been forced to extend the suspension of flights to and from Dubai from 16 to 28 March. These flights had already been suspended until 15 March. Dubai’s airports are significantly reducing the number of flights due to capacity constraints, and the airport authority has required airlines within the Lufthansa Group to cancel all flights during the aforementioned period.

Rebookings and refunds are available

“The Lufthansa Group will assess to what extent it will be possible to operate individual flights despite the strict restrictions. Requests will be examined by the United Arab Emirates authorities on a case-by-case basis; therefore, there is no guarantee that a flight or the requested flight schedule will be approved.” ITA Airways also reminds passengers that “they may request rebooking onto an alternative flight or a refund of their ticket. Please check the flight status in the ‘Flight Status’ section on the website before travelling to the airport”.

Additional flights to India

At the same time ITA has stepped up its operations to India, in line with guidance received from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to facilitate the return of the many Italians temporarily stranded in the country due to the Middle East conflict. The airline has scheduled two additional flights between Rome Fiumicino and Delhi on 24 and 25 March, with the following timings: the first, on 24 March, will depart at 17:40 (Italian time) and land in the Indian capital at 05:55 (local time); the second, on 25 March, will depart at 17:35 (Italian time) and land in the Indian capital at 05:35 (local time).

Tickets on the website and official sales channels

The times for the  two additional flights departing from Delhi and arriving at Rome Fiumicino are: the first, on 25 March, will depart from DEL at 08:25 local time and land at FCO at 13:00 (Italian time); the second, on 26 March, will depart from DEL at 07:35 local time and land at FCO at 11:55 (Italian time). Tickets for these flights are available on the website ita-airways.com, on the ITA Airways app and through the airline’s official sales channels. Subject to developments in the geopolitical situation in the region, ITA continues to operate direct flights to Asia, whilst also assessing the possibility of stepping up its operations to assist in the repatriation of Italian nationals in the area.

In the Marche on horseback, discovering the region that could be called the last frontier of experiential tourism.

Discovering the Marche on horseback

In the region that inspired the poet Giacomo Leopardi, ButteroZone offers horseback experiences with something extra: the authenticity of genuine love. Created by Giacomo Bartolucci and his wife Erica Sebastianelli whose passion for horses and their Marche region led them to share this passion. The philosophy behind ButteroZone is based on four key points.

Exclusivity, connection, passion and food

First, exclusivity. The exclusivity of being able to appreciate nature and the territory, and the uniqueness of the experience. Second, connection. The idea being to create an intense connection with the horses and the rider. There is also room for passion. ButteroZone was set up in 2021 from this passion for horses and for the Marche, handed down by families who have come together to create a network of relationships and activities designed to gently introduce people to horses, even for the first time. The route is designed to take about half a day, with the introductory half-hour with the horse designed to get you in the right mood for the ride, which lasts about 50 minutes. The destination of the excursion is always a refreshment point, where Erica Sebastianelli has set up a welcome using local products, to be enjoyed during a break of about 45 minutes.

“Our dream was to be able to share so much beauty”

”We developed the product from our love of nature, animals, and the Marche region and all the wonderful things it has to offer. We created ButteroZone to introduce all this to anyone who wants to get closer to it: our dream was to be able to share so much beauty,” explains Giacomo Bartolucci. ButteroZone is something unique in the world of horses, taking the form of ButteroExperience rides, with destinations in different locations for the aperitifs.

Aperitifs in different nature settings 

Participants can choose between Aperinfiume, a route that leads to the Cesano river, which marks the border between the provinces of Pesaro and Ancona. Or Aperincollina to a panoramic viewpoint from which you can take in Mount Catria, valleys, hills and even the Adriatic Sea. Aperinballa, on the other hand, takes you back to the festivals of yesteryear, as in this case with the gourmet moment sitting on a bale of hay. And then there is Aperinlocanda, which leads to a vantage point with views of the ancient village of Montalfoglio. 

SmallFly's operations from Elba Island are expanding and, for the first time, will also include flights to and from Rome Fiumicino.

SmallFly operates to Tuscany, Ldombary and Lazio 

With the new addition of Rome to its flights from Florence, Pisa and Milan Linate airports the airline completes a network that, for the first time, connects Elba with the four main airports in Tuscany, Lombardy and Lazio, opening up new travel opportunities for residents and tourists alike. The schedule includes two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays, with 18-seater aircraft, guaranteeing travellers quick access to the capital and intercontinental connecting flights at Rome’s Fiumicino intercontinental airport.

Flights operational 1 June-30 September 2026 

The rest of the summer network (1 June-30 September 2026) includes flights from Marina di Campo to Florence Peretola, with multiple weekly frequencies: flights operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, providing coverage six days a week. Each aircraft has a capacity of 18 seats. The flight time is 35 minutes (actual flight time), with an estimated total time of 40 minutes.

Photo of Elba Island: ©R. Ridi

Pisa and Milan are also in the network

Connections to Galileo Galilei Airport in Pisa operate on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Flights depart in the morning and afternoon, with a capacity of 18 passengers per flight and a journey time of 30 minutes (35 minutes total). Flights to Milan Linate operate on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays, with 9-seater aircraft; the connections have a flight time of between 45 and 55 minutes (1h00-1h10 total), with departures in the early afternoon.

“The new route to Rome Fiumicino is a bridge to the world” 

“Summer 2026 is a turning point for SmallFly and for the accessibility of Elba Island,- reads a statement from the airline. -The new route to Rome Fiumicino is not just another connection: it is a bridge to the world. We are proud to offer the citizens of Elba and our passengers, residents and tourists, a more comprehensive and competitive network, with the standards of punctuality and service that set us apart."

Ryanair is to launch nine new routes from the UK to Emilia Romagna this summer with a 50% increase in seat capacity. 

The airports abolished the municipal surcharge

This is Ryanair's investment in the airports of Emilia Romagna - Forlì, Parma and Rimini - for summer 2026, and responds to the Region's decision to abolish the municipal surcharge at smaller airports, as proposed by President De Pascale and supported by the Italian Parliament.  Emilia-Romagna is now the fifth Italian region to have abolished this regressive tax, following in the footsteps of Abruzzo, Calabria, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Sicily, in order to stimulate growth in traffic, tourism and employment.

Twenty routes to Emilia Romagna this summer

Overall, in the coming summer, the low-cost airline will operate through a network of 20 routes with three to Forlì, two new routes to Cagliari and London Stansted, five to Parma. There will also be three new routes to Tirana, Reggio Calabria and London Stansted, twelve to Rimini, and four new routes to Wroclaw, Manchester, Cologne and Catania. This represents over 250,000 additional seats per year (+50%), with a target of 660,000 passengers per year (+50%).

“A record-breaking summer for Forli Airport” 

“We are delighted to announce this record-breaking operation for summer 2026 in Forlì, Parma and Rimini. It is aa direct result of the Region's proactive decision to abolish the municipal surcharge at smaller airports in Emilia Romagna. Now is the right time to take a step forward. Abolishing this anti-growth tax at all Italian airports would unlock further growth, low fares and greater connectivity for all Italian citizens and tourists. It would allow Ryanair to implement an ambitious growth plan for Italy that includes 40 new aircraft (£3 billion investment), 20 million additional passengers, over 250 new routes and 15,000 jobs across Italy,” said Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO.

An appeal to Ryanair to support smaller airports 

The President of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele De Pascale, added: 'The elimination of the municipal surcharge for Rimini, Forlì and Parma creates conditions of greater competitiveness to attract new routes, tourism and employment. The positive dialogue with Ryanair, which has already invested heavily in new routes to smaller airports, confirms that the path taken is producing tangible results. The launch of the regional airport plan was also the result of constructive institutional collaboration with the government, the relevant ministry and ENAC. We appeal to them to continue to support the entire Italian airport system, with a focus on smaller airports, which represent a strategic infrastructure for territorial cohesion, economic competitiveness and the tourist appeal of Emilia-Romagna.”