ITA Airways expands global network with strategic growth in Middle East
These new routes mark a significant step in ITA Airways' long-term vision to establish Rome Fiumicino as a major intercontinental hub. Operated by the cutting-edge Airbus A321neo, the Middle Eastern routes offer passengers a refined travel experience with a three-class cabin configuration — Business, Premium Economy, and Economy. The aircraft also underscores ITA Airways' sustainability mission, delivering over 20 percent lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat, along with a 50 percent reduction in noise impact compared to previous-generation models.
Passengers flying to and from the Middle East benefit from seamless connections across ITA Airways' growing network, covering Europe, the Americas, and North Africa, supported by optimized transit through Rome Fiumicino Airport.
Further enhancing the customer journey, ITA Airways recently unveiled its new premium Runway Lounge at Milan Linate Airport — an elegant space that embodies Italian design and excellence. Developed in collaboration with iconic Italian brands such as Campari Group, illycaffè, iGuzzini, and Poltrona Frau, the lounge offers a luxurious and uniquely Italian ambiance. To celebrate the launch, a fashion show curated by Italian label Silence Please featured designs inspired by ITA Airways' intercontinental destinations, reinforcing the brand's connection to Italian creativity and global elegance.
Commenting on the expansion, Jörg Eberhart, CEO of ITA Airways, said: 'Our growing footprint in the Middle East is a clear reflection of our long-term commitment to building sustainable and meaningful connections between Europe and this dynamic region. ITA Airways is dedicated to providing a premium and authentically Italian travel experience, supported by a modern fleet and seamless global connectivity. These new routes go beyond commercial value — they represent a vision of smarter, more connected travel that brings people, cultures, and economies closer together.'
As part of its broader growth strategy, ITA Airways continues to invest in fleet renewal, aiming for 90 percent of its aircraft to be next-generation models by 2027 — making it one of the youngest and most environmentally responsible fleets in Europe. Backed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Italy and Deutsche Lufthansa AG, ITA Airways is steadily establishing itself as a key player in global aviation, driven by innovation, sustainability, and an unmistakable Italian style.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Golf Saudi partners with Five Iron Golf to expand sport across Kingdom
RIYADH: Golf Saudi has announced a strategic partnership with Five Iron Golf — a global leader in immersive golf experiences — to launch a series of advanced indoor golf venues across Saudi Arabia. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The collaboration supports Golf Saudi's mission to broaden community engagement and build a sustainable, inclusive golf ecosystem in alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030's goals for the sports sector. The first Five Iron Golf venue is scheduled to open in Riyadh in the first quarter of 2026. Located on the ground floor of the iconic PIF Tower in the King Abdullah Financial District — one of the region's most advanced business hubs — it is set to become one of the world's most prominent indoor golf destinations, adding a new dimension to Saudi Arabia's evolving sports and entertainment landscape. Spanning approximately 1,500 sq. meters, the venue will combine Five Iron Golf's signature mix of cutting-edge technology, vibrant hospitality, and immersive design at one of the Kingdom's most prestigious addresses. Founded in New York in 2017, Five Iron Golf has grown into a global brand with over 36 sites across 16 US states and five other locations — including Dubai, India, Singapore, and Australia. The company offers simulators, professional instruction, Callaway club fittings, a global membership program, and full-service hospitality. Backed by strategic investors such as Callaway Golf and Enlightened Hospitality Investment, Five Iron is rapidly expanding through both corporate development and franchising, with over 60 locations in the pipeline. The partnership aligns with Golf Saudi's vision to expand the sport's footprint across the Kingdom by introducing modern, accessible venues that appeal to all demographics — particularly youngsters and women. Golf Saudi and Five Iron aim to deliver a comprehensive, world-class model that blends technology, hospitality, and education to welcome players of all skill levels. Noah Alireza, CEO of Golf Saudi, said: 'We're thrilled to partner with Five Iron Golf to bring one of the world's most dynamic and inclusive golf experiences to Saudi Arabia. 'This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to expanding participation, developing youth talent, and building year-round golf infrastructure. Together, we aim to create a vibrant, accessible golf ecosystem across the Kingdom, in line with Vision 2030.' Jared Solomon, the co-founder and CEO of Five Iron Golf, said: 'We believe Five Iron is more than just a place to hit balls — it's a cultural experience that has helped shape the modern face of golf. We're excited to bring our brand, energy, and commitment to inclusivity to Saudi Arabia. 'As the Kingdom builds a vibrant golf ecosystem and inspires a new generation of golfers, we're proud to be part of this momentum and contribute to its broader success story.' Golf Saudi and Five Iron Golf plan to expand the model to additional cities in the future, further accelerating the Kingdom's golf development and reinforcing its regional leadership in the sport.
Argaam
4 hours ago
- Argaam
NDF inks SAR 5.5B credit facilities with Riyad Bank, SAB
Logo of National Development Fund (NDF) The National Development Fund (NDF) signed two credit facility agreements with Riyad Bank and Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), at a value of SAR 5.5 billion. The facilities aim to provide more support for development projects in the Kingdom and enable its 12 development funds and banks to achieve their development goals, reinforce economic growth, and accelerate the pace of national transformation, the bank said, in a statement. It added that these partnerships represent a fundamental pillar for driving development and accelerating the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030 by supporting major projects and financing development initiatives that contribute to building a prosperous and sustainable economy for future generations.
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
Is it a bird, is it a plane? No — it's a Saudi aviation athlete
RIYADH: Most people live their lives on the ground, but Faisal Al-Olayan chose the sky. The Saudi aviation athlete, this week's guest on The Mayman Show, is an aerospace engineer, pilot, skydiver and a member of the Kingdom's national paragliding team. Most of us travel, but he chases storms, soars above mountains and dives into clouds in ways most of us only dream about. From experiencing rain that 'almost stops the heart' mid-flight to emotional moments when he completed his wingsuit training in Russia, Al-Olayan lives life one adrenaline rush at a time. His story is not so much about escaping gravity, as about finding freedom within it. 'I started having fun in flying because my mom, when I was young, she was telling me (I was) half bird. And when I started with this mentality, I started to do all of my activities in the sky. I started from graduating with sports until I am here with the national team,' said Al-Olayan. He began paramotoring in 2019, a form of ultralight aviation using a paraglider wing and a motor worn as a backpack. 'I started to train (in) paramotoring here in Riyadh,' he recalled. 'A paramotor is basically a parachute, but you have an engine (on) your back and you can foot-launch from anywhere.' He then planned to do his pilot training in the US, but the global pandemic and resulting lockdowns put paid to that. Al-Olayan loves to travel and has visited 67 countries to date. 'I started to take my paraglider with me to fly from mountains, I was getting more experience with this sport as a paraglider. And this is what makes me continue in all of those aerial sports,' he said. His role as an aerospace engineer also plays a big part in his experiences in the air. 'If you want to start to fly, you have to know aerodynamics … you have to know how the wind (is) flying and all of those things,' he explained. It also helped him become a fast learner and understand what was happening when he flew. 'There are two kinds of pilots. There is an experienced one and there is (an) experience and no physics one … it's like driving … you know how to drive the car, but you don't know anything about the car, you don't know about the engine,' he said. Al-Olayan added that was what made him fall in love with paramotoring and other sports. 'I even built my own paramotor. I was designing it, everything with my specifications and things like that,' he said. 'And all of that happened when I studied at KFUPM (King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals) in Dhahran.' For five years, he did nothing but study until he obtained his degree in aerospace engineering. After that, he started taking part in competitions, doing well enough to earn his place in Saudi Arabia's national paragliding team, run by the Saudi Paragliding Federation. 'Shaheen (is) the name of the paragliding organization. And that was like … a new chapter for me because to compete is something — you're holding your name — but now you compete with the Saudi name … bringing your flag and your clothes, and everyone is seeing you as a Saudi athlete,' he explained. 'It's not like Faisal, the old one, is coming to compete. In the competitions that I was in, (I) was less nervous and less pressured. But when I was going with the national team, it was much, much more pressure. But for me, I enjoyed it a lot because it was more exciting.'
