American Airlines advances on the Italian market as the demand for added capacity surges.
New York-Milan in view of the winter Olympics
"We are recording a growing interest in travel on the part of Americans even in the winter months, - says José Freig, VP international and inflight dining operations, -This year, the Dallas-Rome flight will operate until early January, in 2024 this ended at the end of October. We will also continue to operate flights between New York and Milan in February next year, offering passengers interested in sports tourism the opportunity to visit the region."
And for summer 2026, what’s new?
"The Italian market continues to be a strategic priority for American Airlines and, with this in mind, we have reintroduced the direct Milan-Miami fight, operating from March 2026. This new route further strengthens our presence at Malpensa, which is already served by a daily flight from New York and a seasonal one from Philadelphia, introduced this year and which will resume a few weeks earlier at the start of next season. The expansion responds to strong demand in 2025 and is an integral part of our global network growth plan."
With 2025 coming to a close, how was the year?
"The summer of 2025 saw a record number of flights to Italy from the US, both in terms of total daily flights (up to 12) and the number of new routes introduced in a single year (four new flights: Miami-Rome FCO, Philadelphia-Milan Malpensa, Dallas -Venice and Chicago-Naples). Italy remains one of the most dynamic European markets for American Airlines. The year 2025 confirmed the success of our expansion strategy in Italy. New routes to Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples from major US hubs have seen strong demand, with a growing number of passengers interested in travelling in premium cabins. Demand to Italy remained solid, with significant peaks in the summer months and early bookings for the autumn.”
What was the trend in fares compared to the beginning of the year and last summer?
"Fares have remained competitive. US travellers consistently confirm to us that Italy is one of their top destinations for summer travel. We are thrilled to have added new flights from Miami to Rome this year and to have announced a connection from Miami to Milan for next year".
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in the market today?
"As is the case throughout the industry, one of the main challenges is the increase in operating costs. However, we see opportunities in the increasing loyalty of Italian customers, the expansion of the network and the offering of premium services such as access to new Flagship Lounges, new flexible travel options and even more benefits for our AAdvantage members.”
