Saudi Arabia And Italy Strengthen Bonds With New ITA Airways Direct Route

The Air Connectivity Program (ACP) and its partners welcomed ITA Airways' inaugural direct flight from Rome to Jeddah. This new service will operate thrice weekly using an Airbus A321neo, connecting Rome Fiumicino with King Abdulaziz International Airport.

To mark the launch of this route, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Jeddah International Airport's arrival gate. Attendees included Italian Vice Consul-General in Jeddah Irene Buongiorno, ACP vice president of aviation development Rashed Al-Shammari, ITA president of international sales Pierfrancesco Carino, Jeddah Airport vice president of operations Glen Wilson, and ITA regional manager for Asia, Middle East, and Africa Benedetto Mencaroni.

Jeddah Airports chief executive Eng. Mazen Johar and ACP chief executive Majid Khan expressed their excitement: "We are delighted to see ITA Airways commencing the route between Rome and our coastal and historical city of Jeddah, which will further enhance our air connectivity to KSA. Travelers from ITA Airways’ network in Italy, Europe, and the Americas will enjoy a more seamless journey to explore the untapped potential of Jeddah. We look forward to further strengthening our collaboration with a great partner, ITA Airways."

ITA chief commercial officer Emiliana Limosani shared her enthusiasm: "We are delighted to inaugurate our first nonstop flight between Jeddah and Rome, strengthening our presence in Saudi Arabia, a rapidly growing market." She added that this new route follows the launch of the nonstop connection to Riyadh in June and is part of their ongoing summer network expansion.

Limosani also highlighted the benefits: "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."

Boosting Tourism and Investments

Hazim AlHazmi, Saudi Tourism Authority president for Europe & Americas markets, was equally enthusiastic: "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."

Vice Consul General Buongiorno echoed these sentiments: "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. It truly is a testimony of the friendship between the two countries."

A Vision for Global Tourism Leadership

The ACP operates under Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Tourism. Its mission is to improve air connectivity from underserved markets worldwide to Saudi Arabia. By bridging tourism and aviation stakeholders, ACP aims to realise the National Tourism Strategy’s vision and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in tourism air connectivity.

Buongiorno added personal reflections on this milestone: "The new ITA Airways intercontinental route will boost the promotion of our beloved country into Saudi Arabia. Likewise, it is with great pleasure to be part of this unique opportunity for my fellow Italians to be able to discover the kingdom." She concluded by wishing success to both ITA Airways and King Abdulaziz International Airport.

This new direct connection from Rome to Jeddah represents a significant step towards developing Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector. It aims to increase visitor numbers from Italy, Europe, and beyond.

With inputs from SPA