ITA Airways Launches First Nonstop Rome–Houston Flights

ITA Airways has opened a brand new transatlantic corridor, launching the first-ever nonstop flights between Rome Fiumicino and Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport on May 2. The route fills a longstanding gap in connectivity between two major global cities that, despite strong business and cultural ties, had never been directly linked by air.

Houston — the fourth-largest city in the United States and a world hub for the energy and aerospace industries — joins ITA Airways' North American network alongside New York, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, and Toronto, bringing the total to nine destinations on the continent. The service launches with three weekly frequencies, stepping up to five from June 1.

Flights are operated by the Airbus A330-900, a next-generation widebody that ITA Airways positions as a showcase for Italian design and technology. Passengers boarding in Houston can already experience the airline's new seasonal onboard menu, introduced in April, which highlights regional Italian dishes reinterpreted in a contemporary style using carefully selected seasonal ingredients.

The launch was marked by ceremonies in both cities, attended by government officials, airport executives, and airline leadership. U.S. Ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, and Aeroporti di Roma CEO Marco Troncone were among those welcoming the inaugural service — with Whitmire noting the timing ahead of Houston hosting matches at the FIFA World Cup.

ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart described Houston as a key addition to the airline's long-haul network, pointing to the city's role as a global energy capital with a growing arts and cultural scene. ITA Airways Chairman Sandro Pappalardo framed the route as more than a commercial connection, highlighting its significance for the Italian-American community in Texas.

From Rome, passengers can connect onward to destinations across Italy and Europe through ITA Airways' domestic network at Fiumicino and Milan Linate. Looking further ahead, the airline has already announced its next long-haul addition for winter 2026–2027: a new seasonal nonstop service between Rome and Santo Domingo.