ITA Airways, Italy’s flag carrier, has recently announced its latest transatlantic route, set to commence in the spring of 2026. This news aligns with the airline’s significant developments.
ITA Airways to operate flights from Rome to Houston beginning 2026
Starting May 1, 2026, ITA Airways will commence services between Rome (FCO) and Houston (IAH). Initially, the service will run 3 times a week, increasing to 5 times weekly from June 1, 2026. The schedule for the flights is as follows:
AZ636 Rome to Houston departs at 10:20AM and arrives at 3:40PM
AZ637 Houston to Rome departs at 6:10PM and arrives at 11:50AM (+1 day)
The 5,682-mile journey is scheduled to take 12 hours and 20 minutes westbound and 10 hours and 40 minutes eastbound. ITA Airways will operate the route with an Airbus A330-900neo, which is configured with 291 seats, including 30 in business class, 24 in premium economy, and 237 in economy. Personally, I believe ITA Airways’ business class offers one of the top experiences across the Atlantic.
Houston will become ITA Airways’ eighth destination in the U.S., following Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD).
This coincides with ITA Airways’ shift to Star Alliance
Historically, it’s worth noting that ITA Airways (along with its predecessor Alitalia) was a member of the SkyTeam alliance. However, with investments from the Lufthansa Group, ITA has shifted its strategy.
ITA Airways has officially departed from SkyTeam and is poised to join Star Alliance soon. The long-term vision includes ITA Airways becoming part of the Star Alliance transatlantic joint venture, which currently comprises United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, SWISS, among others.
Given this context, the Houston route is a sensible development. Houston represents a significant market and serves as a major hub for United, providing numerous connectivity options. This will serve as an effective, streamlined travel solution for accessing various parts of the U.S. and Rome. Houston is also one of the rare hubs where United does not have direct flights to Rome, meaning ITA will face little to no competition in this sector.
Here’s ITA Airways CEO Joerg Eberhart’s take on this new route:
“We are thrilled to announce that for the very first time, there will be a direct flight connecting Rome and Houston. This marks our ninth North American destination and will further enhance the airline’s intercontinental network, one of ITA Airways’ primary strengths: long-haul operations not only boost profitability but also promote short-haul traffic, thereby reinforcing the Rome Fiumicino hub.”
“With this new route, we solidify our growth in the U.S. market, our key international focus. The broad range of options from Rome positions us as the go-to carrier from the U.S. to Italy and, through Rome, to Europe and the Mediterranean for the Italian diaspora and other significant communities in the area. The new destination is also part of a comprehensive international expansion strategy, culminating in ITA Airways’ entry into the Star Alliance in 2026, as part of the integration into the Lufthansa Group.”
Final thoughts
ITA Airways will introduce a new route between Rome and Houston beginning in the spring of 2026, utilizing an Airbus A330-900neo. This change is a rational step in ITA’s network, especially considering the airline’s transition to joining the Star Alliance, and the aim for participation in the Star Alliance transatlantic joint venture.
Houston is a major hub for United, and it’s also among the few hubs from which United does not operate flights to Rome, making it a sensible market to expand into.
What are your thoughts on ITA Airways’ plans for flights to Houston?