The new ITA Airways route from Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport to Rome Fiumicino was launched on 2 May.
Five weekly flights from June 1
Marking the first-ever direct connection between the two cities, the inaugural flights from Houston which is the airline’s ninth North American destination, following New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago and Toronto, were operated using an Airbus A330-900. The schedule initially provides for three weekly flights, rising to five from 1 June 2026, and offers convenient connections to numerous Italian destinations thanks to the airline’s extensive domestic network from Rome and Milan Linate.
Linking Houston to Rome, Italy and Europe
“Houston is a hugely significant development for ITA Airways, marking further growth in our long-haul network, upon which we intend to base our future development. It is a dynamic city that combines its role as a global capital of the energy sector with a vibrant and rapidly growing arts and culture scene. The new flight expands access to Italy for residents of Houston and the entire Gulf of Mexico region, offering a direct connection to Rome and further links to numerous destinations in Italy and Europe,” said Joerg Eberhart, CEO and general manager of ITA Airways.
The new route is a bridge that brings cultures closer
“For us, this route is much more than a new connection- added Sandro Pappalardo, the airline’s chairman. -It is a bridge that brings people, stories and cultures closer together and reaffirms our role as ambassadors of Made in Italy around the world, as well as our commitment to becoming the go-to carrier both for travellers to Italy and for those wishing to reach intercontinental destinations. At the same time, it allows the many Italian-Americans in Texas to reconnect with their roots, offering them a direct flight that takes them back to their loved ones, creating new opportunities for meaningful encounters and relationships that make every journey unforgettable."
Solid demand in both the business and leisure sector
“It is a great day for the people of Houston. As a Texan and as the US Ambassador to Italy, I am thrilled about the new direct ITA Airways connection between Houston and Rome,- said Tilman J. Fertitta, US ambassador to Italy and San Marino. -This connection strengthens the economic ties that foster mutual understanding and shared prosperity, and I am grateful to ITA Airways' CEO Joerg Eberhart, Mayor John Whitmire and all the partners who have helped make this possible.” “This is a strategic route for the expansion of Rome airport’s intercontinental network and is the first direct flight between Italy and one of the most dynamic cities in the United States, a key hub in the economic, energy, industrial and technological sectors, with solid demand in both the business and leisure sector," said Marco Troncone, CEO Aeroporti di Roma.
