ITA Airways has a new route planned from Caracas as the airline continues to expand its international network and aims to break even in 2026 

The aim is to launch Caracas flights in October-November

The confirmation comes from the airline’s CEO and General Manager, Joerg Eberhawho was in Rio de Janeiro for the IATA Annual General Meeting. “"We are finalizing a plan for Caracas. Last week I met with the Venezuelan ambassador in Rome; he is holding talks with all stakeholders regarding the launch of this new route, but I am fairly confident that this can be achieved by October-November.”

Two new A350 aircraft

The expansion plans, the CEO added, are linked to the arrival of new aircraft, in particular the Airbus A350s. “The expansion depends on the additional capacity we have. In 2028, we have identified two long-haul aircraft, the A350s. If this plan goes ahead with these two new aircraft, we can envisage further growth in South America: we have plans for Lima and Santiago de Chile. At the same time, we are looking at Japan and boosting our current routes to Rio and Buenos Aires. And then there is always the United States.”

The aim is that of “coming close to breaking even" 

Meanwhile, Eberhart outlines the outlook for the coming months, aiming for an operating break-even by the end of the year: according to Il Corriere.it which reports that the accounts will be supported not only by the advance purchase of 80% of the fuel required for 2026, but also by fare increases averaging 5–10%. This increase “should be enough this year to offset the impact of jet fuel costs. That is why I remain very optimistic that we can meet the budget this year despite this situation." The aim being that of “coming close to breaking even”.

Promoting and showcasing the beauty of the Marche region is the mission of the association Cultura della Bellezza APS, explains Amerigo Varotti

"The Marche is an extraordinary region" 

Promoting the Marche region through culture, history, landscape and food and wine. This is the mission of Cultura della Bellezza APS, an association that operates mainly in the north of the Marche region with the support of numerous municipalities in the provinces of Pesaro Urbino and Ancona. Cultura della Bellezza APS focuses on tourism and cultural promotion,- explains Amerigo Varotti. -We want to showcase the beauty of the Marche region which extends beyond cultural, architectural and environmental heritage to include food and wine. The Marche is an extraordinary region and deserves to be better known."

Promoting the area of Montefeltro

Fourteen municipalities have joined the association to carry out a series of joint projects. Among these, one of the most important is Montefeltro, a historic territory linking the Marche and Romagna regions. "We have developed a project that brings together the province of Pesaro Urbino and the province of Rimini. This is the first time we have moved beyond a vision tied exclusively to regional boundaries to promote a historic region that tells the story of the Montefeltro family and, above all, of Federico da Montefeltro, the great military leader who made Urbino and its Duchy famous."

A newly discovered ancient basilica

Archaeology is another important sector with the promotion of the ancient Via Flaminia. “This interregional project starts in Umbria and extends as far as Fano, passing through places of great historical and archaeological interest such as Fossombrone and Cantiano,- explains Varotti, who added that Fano is currently at the centre of a discovery that is attracting the attention of the international scientific community. “The discovery of Vitruvius’s Basilica is of global significance. We knew of this basilica’s existence only through Vitruvius’s writings; today its foundations have been brought to light and further excavations have been funded, which will provide important new information.”

Focusing on hospitality and gastronomy

Cultura della Bellezza APS also focuses on hospitality and tourism promotion by organizing services for visitors. One of the most original projects is Ristoranti della Bellezza. "In each participating municipality we identify one or two restaurants to recommend to visitors, creating a network of excellence that best represents the local culinary traditions. We also collaborate with the Italian Truffle Academy, of which I am an ambassador, to develop international projects and showcase the Marche region through its cultural and gastronomic excellence, including during the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World scheduled for next November." 

An hour south of Palermo, the ideal for a weekend escape is the little town of Ficuzza.

A royal hunting lodge

With citrus groves and coastal light that give way to dense woodland, cooler air, and a sense of inland Sicily that feels largely untouched by tourism,  Ficuzza, a small town in one of the island’s largest protected forests is anchored by an unexpected royal residence: the Bourbon hunting lodge.

A rare perspective on Sicily’s layered history 

The standout experience here is entering the Real Casina di Caccia di Ficuzza royal hunting lodge which was built in the late 18th century by Ferdinand III of Bourbon. Vast, austere, and almost out of scale with its surroundings, the lodge was designed as a seasonal retreat for hunting expeditions. Today its long corridors, sparse rooms, and monumental proportions feel quietly disorienting. It is neither palace nor country house in the conventional sense, and its isolation is part of the experience. Visiting it offers a rare perspective on Sicily’s layered history, far from baroque cities and coastal narratives.

Air Transat has resumed its long-standing direct route from Toronto to Lamezia Terme.

Represented in Italy by Rephouse GSA

The flights will operate until 15 October. The airline, which is represented in Italy by Rephouse GSA, will fly from Canada to Calabria once a week, every Thursday. The Toronto-Lamezia flight has always been the only non-stop service between the two destinations, a real benchmark for passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.

"For over thirty years the only direct Toronto to Calabria flight"

“For over thirty years, the flight from Lamezia Terme has been the only direct connection from Toronto to Calabria, a long-standing and well-established service, and it offers travellers from Southern Italy a competitive, high-quality option for reaching Canada,- says Tiziana Della Serra, Rephouse's managing director and head of sales & marketing. -Air Transat offers a product that stands out for its excellent value for money; it is important to note that hand luggage is always included and so are meals. For the 2026 season Air Transat confirms a weekly non-stop Lamezia-Toronto flight every Thursday, available on all major GDSs.”

Operating with A330-300 or A330-200 aircraft

The carrier operates from Italy with A330-300 or A330-200 aircraft, offering passengers maximum comfort during the transatlantic journey, configured in two classes of service: Economy Class and Club Class. On direct flights from Italy to Canada and on connecting flights from Italy (with a single Air Transat ticket) to other destinations operated by Air Transat, hand luggage is always included. On direct and intercontinental flights from Italy to Canada, meals are always included in Economy Class across all fare levels: Budget, Standard and Flex.

ITA Airways is taking a further step towards integration within the Lufthansa Group, from this autumn, it will join the strategic Lufthansa-ANA Europe-Japan joint venture.  

Deeper cooperation across strategic areas

The agreement was signed on 7 June during the IATA Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro and the Italian airline’s entry into the major Europe-Japan joint venture will enable deeper cooperation across numerous strategic areas. It will encompass ITA Airways’ European network, including domestic routes within Italy, the Maghreb region (North Africa) and its long-haul service between Rome-Fiumicino and Tokyo-Haneda. This expands the scope of the joint venture in Italy, which already includes the existing route operated by ANA between Tokyo-Haneda and Milan-Malpensa.

Daily Rome-Tokyo Haneda flights from Rome Fiumicino

At the heart of the agreement is ITA Airways’ hub at Rome Fiumicino Airport, from where the leading Italian carrier operates a daily direct flight to Tokyo Haneda. Both airports have been awarded the highest five-star rating by Skytrax. From autumn onwards, this intercontinental route will also be bookable by customers of ANA, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Swiss, allowing for flexible connections with their own flights. Furthermore, the introduction of a joint offering will be rolled out progressively from autumn 2026. Customers will be informed as soon as it becomes available.

Shorter journey times between Japan and Southern Europe

As the joint venture also includes code-share flights operated by ITA Airways to Rome, passengers travelling to and from Japan will benefit from additional travel options. In particular the Rome hub will ensure shorter journey times for connections between Japan and destinations in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean region and North Africa. At the same time, ANA will offer ITA Airways passengers numerous opportunities to connect from Tokyo Haneda to its domestic network in Japan.

"A greater number of travel options"

All passengers will also have access to the respective airlines’ lounges in Rome and Tokyo and will benefit from the mutual recognition of tickets and loyalty programmes between the two airlines. “This agreement is a milestone in the international development of ITA Airways and further strengthens the airline’s connectivity to the Asia-Pacific region, an area of great strategic importance,- commented Joerg Eberhart, CEO and general manager ITA Airways. -We can now offer our customers a greater number of travel options, more efficient connections and an increasingly integrated experience.”

Beyond temples and frescoes, Rome reveals a second identity shaped by infrastructure, systems, and interesting mechanical and engineering sites. 

The skeletal Gasometro gas holder

For visitors drawn to how cities work – which is to say how they move water, energy, and people - Rome offers a surprisingly coherent set of mechanical and technical sites that can be explored over a focused day. One example is a natural continuation of the Centrale Montemartini in the Ostiense district - a museum that combines classical archaeology with industrial machinery – the Gasometro which was once part of the city’s gas distribution system, is a vast steel structure that dominates the riverfront with its skeletal geometry. Though no longer operational, it remains one of Rome’s most powerful industrial forms, best appreciated from a distance along the Tiber river or at sunset, when its latticework stands out against the sky.

Ancient aqueducts and modern EUR

Equally revealing, though far older, is Rome’s water infrastructure. At the Parco degli Acquedotti, multiple ancient aqueducts intersect across open fields, their arches marching across the landscape. Walking beneath these ancient structures makes Rome’s reputation as a city of builders feel literal rather than symbolic. For a more modern expression of engineered order, the EUR district offers a different perspective. Planned in the 20th century as a rational city, EUR is symmetrical, modular and structurally logic, its wide roads and planned vistas underlinig a vision of the city as a controlled, engineered system. 

Rome’s mechanical and engineering sites

These mechanical and engineering sites reveal a Rome built not only on symbolism and beauty, but on function and systems, and for anyone interested in mechanics, engineering, and urban infrastructure, they offer a parallel reading of the city, with Rome is seen as a machine as much as a monument.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to mark the launch Icelandair's new flight from Reykjavik to Venice.  

Icelandair's fourth destination in Italy 

Operating on Marco Polo Airport three times a week until 18 October, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays and operated by a Boeing 737-Max8 aircraft, Venice thus becomes the Icelandic airline’s fourth destination in Italy, after Verona, Rome and Milan.

"Venice holds great appeal in our key markets" 

The launch of the Venice route “is a further step forward in strengthening Icelandair’s network between North America and Europe via our Keflavík hub,- said Icelandair’s COO, Tomas Ingason. -Venice is one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural destinations and holds great appeal in our key markets: Iceland, North America and Italy. - We are also proud that the launch coincides with our support for the Icelandic pavilion at the Venice Biennale, connecting Icelandic travellers to one of the world’s leading cultural events.”

Good for both inbound and outbound traffic

Camillo Bozzolo, Save Group director of aviation development, said that Iceland is a country particularly sought-after by Italians, “and the flight to Reykjavík is a great travel opportunity for our catchment area. Added to this is the network of connecting flights from the Icelandic hub to North America, thus stimulating both the American inbound market to Italy and the Italian outbound market.”