ITA Airways Expands US-Italy Routes with New Houston Connection

The recent announcement of ITA Airways launching a new route from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Houston, Texas (IAH) in March 2025 signals a significant expansion in the US-Italy travel market. This development highlights the continued cultural and historical ties between the two nations, with a robust demand for transatlantic travel.

According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, there are currently 1,335 non-stop flights scheduled between Italy and the US this month. This includes a staggering total of 377,087 seats and 1,699,229,281 available seat miles (ASMs), emphasizing the vital capacity for travelers during the busy December period.

Top Routes: New York JFK to Rome Dominates

The route from New York JFK to Rome Fiumicino stands out as the leading US-Italy corridor by flight frequency. Cirium reports that it is one of only two routes connecting the two countries with over 100 round trips in December 2025. ITA Airways operates 60 of these flights, providing two daily rotations on all but two days of the month. The airline utilizes a mix of Airbus A330, A330neo, and A350 widebody aircraft for this service.

Delta Air Lines matches this presence with double-daily flights throughout December, except for December 2. The carrier primarily deploys its A330 family aircraft, with 44 rotations handled by the A330-900 and 17 by the A330-300. Norse Atlantic also serves this route, offering twice-weekly Boeing 787 flights. CEO Bjorn Tore Larsen noted the appeal of this route, stating, “Whether traveling for business or pleasure, we hope this gives customers an incentive to finally book that trip to one of the most beautiful cities on earth.”

Milan: A Growing Destination from New York

While the New York JFK to Rome route leads in frequency, the corridor from New York JFK to Milan Malpensa (MXP) showcases a different dynamic. With 106 flights scheduled in each direction this December, it features four operators. Notably, ITA Airways does not serve this route, but Emirates has stepped in with its daily Airbus A380 services, which operate under a fifth freedom agreement.

Delta Air Lines also maintains a strong presence, flying daily from JFK to Milan using Boeing 767-400ERs. American Airlines complements this with daily 777-200ER flights, while Norse Atlantic adds three weekly flights with its 787s. In addition, United Airlines operates a daily service from Newark (EWR) to Milan, employing 787 aircraft most days, supplemented by occasional 777 flights. Boutique carrier La Compagnie also contributes to this market, flying its all-premium A321neos on most days, demonstrating a successful all-business-class model that many others have struggled to maintain.

Additional Routes Enhancing Connectivity

Beyond the primary routes, three additional US-Italy connections are served more than daily this month. Delta Air Lines operates a monopoly on the Atlanta (ATL) to Rome route, providing one to two daily flights with A330-900s, totaling 53 outbound and 54 inbound flights.

Meanwhile, ITA Airways connects Miami (MIA) to Rome with up to ten weekly services using A330-900 and A350-900 aircraft. United Airlines also serves the Newark to Rome route with Boeing 767-400ER flights, primarily operating daily with additional rotations at the beginning of the month.

As travel demand continues to grow, these routes reflect the deepening connections between Italy and the United States, providing travelers with a variety of options to explore both countries.