Senior officers of Saudi Arabia’s Air Connectivity Program (ACP), alongside other key partners, welcomed Italian national carrier ITA Airways on its first direct flight from Rome to Jeddah on 1st August, 2024. The new service, operating three times weekly with an Airbus A321neo, links Rome Fiumicino with King Abdulaziz International Airport, further enhancing air connectivity between Italy and Saudi Arabia.
The inaugural flight from Rome Fiumicino landed at King Abdulaziz International Airport at 9:10 p.m. local time and was greeted with a water arch salute. The return flight to Rome departed early the next morning at 3:30 a.m. local time. To commemorate the launch of this new route, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the arrival gate of Jeddah International Airport. The ceremony was attended by Irene Buongiorno, Vice Consul-General of Italy in Jeddah; Rashed Al-Shammari, Vice President of Aviation Development at ACP; Glen Wilson, Vice President of Operations at Jeddah Airports; Amira Afandi, Director of Corporate Communication and Public Relations at Jeddah Airports; Pierfrancesco Carino, Vice President of International Sales at ITA Airways; and Benedetto Mencaroni, Regional Manager for Asia, Middle East, and Africa at ITA Airways.
“We are delighted to inaugurate our first nonstop flight between Jeddah and Rome, strengthening our presence in Saudi Arabia, a rapidly growing market,” said Emiliana Limosani, Chief Commercial Officer of ITA Airways and CEO of Volare. “This new opening follows the launch of the nonstop connection to Riyadh in June and is part of our ongoing summer network expansion, which boasts excellent booking results. Operated with the state-of-the-art A321neo, this new flight will expand the medium-haul network and enhance commercial and cultural exchanges between the Arabian Peninsula and Italy, while also providing connections with our array of destinations accessible via our Rome Fiumicino hub.”
Hazim Al Hazmi, President of Europe & Americas Markets at the Saudi Tourism Authority, also expressed his enthusiasm: “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 strengthen the cultural and economic ties between Italy and Saudi Arabia.”
“As a representative of the Italian Consulate, I am thrilled to be part of the strengthening partnership between Italy and Saudi Arabia through the launch of the new roundtrip Rome-Jeddah flight,” said Vice Consul-General Irene Buongiorno. “It truly is a testimony of the friendship between the two countries, which not only is rooted in a deep historic relationship but is further developing the commercial friendship with expanding opportunities.”
“The new ITA Airways intercontinental route will boost the promotion of our beloved country in Saudi Arabia. Likewise, it is with great pleasure to be part of this unique opportunity for my fellow Italians to discover the kingdom, a beautiful country that I have had the chance to call home for the past seven years. I would like to wish all the success to ITA Airways and King Abdulaziz International Airport and cannot wait to see the positive impact that this new flight will bring,” added Buongiorno.
The new connection operates as follows:
- Jeddah to Rome: Three weekly flights departing Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport at 3:30 a.m. local time and arriving in Rome Fiumicino at 7:00 a.m. local time on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
- Rome to Jeddah: Three weekly flights departing Rome Fiumicino at 3:05 p.m. local time and arriving in Jeddah at 9:10 p.m. local time on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
The Airbus A321neo, which operates the Jeddah-Rome route, is the largest aircraft in the Airbus A320neo family, offering exceptional range and performance with 20% lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions per seat. It features three separate cabins: Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy. The interiors, designed by Walter de Silva, embody the elegance and style typical of Italy, with advanced entertainment systems and spacious seating.
With the introduction of the new nonstop flight to Jeddah, ITA Airways is operating 57 destinations in the current summer season, including 16 domestic, 26 international, and 15 intercontinental routes. During the summer peak, the airline will also fly to 12 additional seasonal destinations in the Mediterranean. This summer marks significant expansion for ITA Airways, with new routes to Chicago, Toronto, Riyadh, Jeddah, Accra, and Dakar. In the upcoming winter season, the airline will launch additional routes to Dubai and Bangkok.
The new flights can be purchased through ITA Airways‘ sales channels, including the official website, the airline’s customer centre, travel agencies, and airport ticket offices.
The ACP, under the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aims to enhance air connectivity from underserved markets around the world to the Kingdom. ACP operates at the intersection of tourism and aviation by bridging the stakeholder ecosystem to enable the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and establish Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.
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Read also: GACA reports 17% growth in Saudi passenger numbers for H1 2024
