While some doubts are starting to rise on whether the Lufthansa takeover will happen or not, ITA Airways is working on expanding its route network. Specifically, the new Italian airline is working on expanding its intercontinental network, which represent the most profitable routes. Simply because they don’t have to go head-to-head with extremely aggressive low-cost carriers. The next route to join the ITA network will be Rome Dubai in late 2024.
The New ITA Airways Rome Fiumicino Dubai Flight
This new Rome Dubai flight will mark the return of an Italian flag carrier to the UAE. Until before the pandemic Alitalia used to fly to the UAE, however that was to Abu Dhabi International Airport and not Dubai. That route was part of the Etihad partnership that crashed and burned in the 2010s. Now ITA Airways is giving a shot to Italy to UAE flights. Hopefully the outcome will be more successful this time around.
The first flight between FCO and DXB will take to the skies on October 27th 2024. What left me a little surprised is that ITA will be investing heavily on the route as it plans to operate daily flights from day one throughout the 2024 winter season (and hopefully beyond). Also the aircraft choice is also quite interesting.
ITA will deploy its stunning new A321neo on the route. The aircraft is configured exactly to serve this type of route with a 3 class configuration featuring:
- 12 Lay flat business class seats in a 1-1 layout
- 12 Premium Economy Seat in a 2-2 layout
- 141 Economy Class seats in a 3-3 layout
As for the timing of the flight, here’s how it’ll connect Rome Fiumicino airport to Dubai International:
Flight Number | Departure Airport | Code | Departure Time | Arrival Airport | Code | Arrival Time | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AZ856 | Rome Fiumicino | FCO | 10:40 | Dubai | DXB | 19:50 | |
AZ857 | Dubai | DXB | 01:50 | Rome Fiumicino | FCO | 06:00 |
ITA will be going face to face on this route with a giant of civil aviation. Although just recently ITA Airways struck a codeshare deal with Emirates, it will be competing against the Dubai based airline on this specific service. However ITA Airways will be flying in and out of the less fancy Terminal 1 in DXB airport.
Looking to Intercept Business and Leisure Travellers
I personally think this route makes sense for ITA. Dubai is a destination many Italian travel to during the winter months. Many fly to Dubai to escape the cold temperatures and the flight isn’t at all that long. However, Dubai is also one if not the main financial city in the middle east and many business travellers fly between Italy and the UAE regularly. This new flight also works towards ITA’s and FCO’s goal to become an access point for traffic incoming to Europe.
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