Air India touches down at Rome Fiumicino Airport, expanding mainland Europe network to 8 gateways

The Voice of Chandigarh|Travel Trade Reporter 

Air India inaugurated its new 4x weekly non-stop service to Rome Fiumicino, touching down at the Italian capital city after nearly six years and thus, expanding its presence in Mainland Europe. Rome is Air India’s eighth gateway in Mainland Europe and the second destination in Italy, after Milan.

Flight AI123 departed from Delhi at 1332 Hrs (IST) of 25 March, landing at Rome Fiumicino in the evening to a warm welcome from dignitaries from the Indian Embassy in Italy, Fiumicino airport officials, and Air India staff.

The first flight was welcomed by a delegation including H.E. Ms Vani Rao, Ambassador of India to Italy and San Marino; Mr Gaurav Gandhi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Rome; Mr. Swaminathan Krishnamoorthy, Head of Chancery, Embassy of India in Rome; and senior officials from Aeroporti Di Roma, who also inaugurated the departing flight from Rome, which landed in Delhi at 1029 Hrs (IST) today. The dignitaries celebrated the occasion with a traditional Indian ceremony of lamp-lighting, cake-cutting and honouring the first passenger to board the flight.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India, said: “Demand for travel between India and Europe continues to grow across both leisure and business segments, with the two nations sharing so much in common culturally, and their increasing exchange that continues to deepen business, trade, and people-to-people ties. We are delighted to reconnect the two historic capital cities while also enabling seamless onward travels via our Delhi hub to and from destinations across the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.”

Deepening India-Italy ties

Italy remains an important partner for India across trade, tourism and cultural exchange. Bilateral trade between the two countries surpassed USD 14 billion in 2025, supported by strong collaboration in sectors like engineering, automative, fashion and design. Italy is also home to one of the largest Indian communities in continental Europe, with more than 200,000 people of Indian origin contributing to steadily growing travel demand between the two countries.

“We are pleased to welcome Air India’s arrival in Rome,” said Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer of Aeroporti di Roma. “The new direct connection to Delhi enhances our offering to the Indian capital and meets the growing travel demand between Italy and India. This new route further strengthens Rome Fiumicino’s role as a leading international hub in the Mediterranean, increasingly central to air links with Asia.”

Flight schedule

Air India now operates between Delhi and Rome four times a week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays – using its B787-8 aircraft. The aircraft features a two-class cabin configuration with 18 fully flat beds in Business Class and 241 spacious seats in Economy Class, offering guests a comfortable flying experience complemented by Air India’s signature warm Indian hospitality and onboard service.

The flight schedule has been designed to enable convenient connections via Delhi to several destinations across India and Southeast Asia, including but not limited to Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. This enables travellers from Italy to easily access Air India’s growing international and domestic network.

Air India now flies non-stop from India to eight points in Mainland Europe, namely Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Zurich.

Bookings for Air India’s flights between Delhi and Rome are available on all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres, and through travel agents worldwide.