ITA Airways Launches New Route to Saudi Arabia with Rome-Riyadh Flight

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ITA Airways, Italy’s national airline, inaugurated its new direct flights to Saudi Arabia today with the first nonstop service from Rome Fiumicino to Riyadh. The launch of this intercontinental route was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Terminal E of Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Dignitaries present at the event included Tommaso Fumelli, VP of Italy Sales for ITA Airways, Pierfrancesco Carino, VP of International Sales for ITA Airways, and Carlo Baldocci, Minister Plenipotentiary in the Directorate General for Political Affairs and future Ambassador to Riyadh. Also in attendance were Sami Ibrahim Al Yahya, representing the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Italy; Fabio Nicolai, Deputy Director General of ENAC; Raffaello Biselli, Councillor for Trade and Markets of the Municipality of Fiumicino; Susann Kern, Country Manager of the Saudi Tourism Authority in Italy; and Federico Scriboni, Head of Aviation Business Development at Aeroporti di Roma.

Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer ITA Airways and CEO of Volare, said: “We are proud to inaugurate today our first nonstop flight to Riyadh and Saudi Arabia, a growing and strategic market for ITA Airways especially for business traffic. This new Riyadh – Rome connection marks a significant milestone for our Company and will intensify trade flows between the Arabian Peninsula and our Country. Our commitment to the Middle East region will continue with the introduction of new nonstop flights to Kuwait City and Jeddah in July and August, respectively.”

“Saudi Arabia is a rapidly expanding market, – said Federico Scriboni, Head of Aviation Business Development at Aeroporti di Roma – with around 200,000 passengers carried in 2023, Fiumicino quadrupled the traffic volumes of 2019, a growth trend confirmed in the first four months of 2024, increasing by 33% compared to the same period last year. The launch of ITA Airways’ new flight to Riyadh demonstrates the growing relevance of a market with excellent prospects for further development in both the leisure and business segments”.

“The introduction of direct connections from Rome to Riyadh in June and Jeddah in August is a crucial step in our mission to develop the tourism sector further and increase visitor numbers from Italy and beyond to Saudi. The new routes, fueled by our strong partnership with the national carrier ITA Airways, will significantly enhance accessibility and are expected to drive greater investments. This development will also strengthenthe cultural and economic ties between Italy and Saudi,” stated Hazim Al-Hazmi, President of Europe & Americas at The Saudi Tourism Authority.

Delighted to welcome the new route from Riyadh to Rome, Ayman AboAbah, CEO of Riyadh Airports Company which is managing King Khalid International Airport said: “This is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to expand our network and strengthen our connections with key global cities. We are excited to offer our passengers more travel options and look forward to welcoming travelers from Rome to discover the rich culture and hospitality of Riyadh. This new route is a testament to our commitment to providing worldclass service and enhancing the travel experience for our passengers” he concluded.

The route will operate five times a week, with flights leaving Riyadh daily except on Wednesdays and Sundays at 1:45 a.m. local time, arriving in Rome at 6:35 a.m. Flights depart Rome every day except Tuesdays and Saturdays at 3:25 p.m., arriving in Riyadh at 9:25 p.m. The service is provided using the technologically advanced Airbus A321neo, a first-of-its-kind narrowbody jet that offers three separate classes: Business (12 seats), Premium Economy (12 seats), and Economy (141 seats, including 12 Comfort Economy seats). Known for its efficiency, the A321neo reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by over 20% per seat and cuts noise impact by 50% compared to its predecessors.

The aircraft features the newly designed Airspace Cabin, enhanced with contemporary colors and materials, state-of-the-art seats, custom interior lighting by ITA Airways, and large overhead bins. Each seat is outfitted with the latest entertainment system, including on-demand video and audio and touchscreens offering low reflectivity and 4K resolution—17.3 inches in Business, 15.6 inches in Premium Economy, and 13.3 inches in Economy—for an engaging and user-friendly experience.

This new route not only connects Rome with Riyadh but also serves as a gateway to the Arabian Peninsula. Upcoming routes include services from Kuwait City and Jeddah to Rome, launching on July 1 and August 1, respectively. Additionally, expansions to Accra and Dakar will increase ITA Airways’ total destinations to 57 for the 2024 summer season, encompassing 16 domestic, 26 international, and 15 intercontinental locations. The airline will also serve 12 additional seasonal destinations during the summer peak, focusing on popular Mediterranean tourist spots accessible via direct flights from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.