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

Air India has officially returned to Rome after nearly six years, inaugurating its new 4x weekly non-stop service between Delhi and Rome Fiumicino Airport. This marks Rome as Air India’s eighth gateway in mainland Europe and its second destination in Italy after Milan.

Flight Details
- Route: Delhi (DEL) ↔ Rome (FCO)
- Frequency: 4x weekly (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun)
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
- Cabin: 18 Business Class flatbeds + 241 Economy seats

Schedule:
- AI123 (Delhi → Rome): Departs 13:15 IST, arrives 18:55 local
- AI122 (Rome → Delhi): Departs 20:50 local, arrives 09:00 IST (+1 day)

Inaugural Ceremony
The first flight was welcomed with traditional Indian lamp-lighting and cake-cutting at Fiumicino. Dignitaries included:
- H.E. Vani Rao, Ambassador of India to Italy & San Marino
- Gaurav Gandhi, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India in Rome
- Swaminathan Krishnamoorthy, Head of Chancery, Embassy of India in Rome
- Senior officials from Aeroporti di Roma

Strategic Importance
- Cultural & Business Ties: Bilateral trade between India and Italy surpassed USD 14 billion in 2025, spanning engineering, automotive, fashion, and design.
- Community Links: Italy hosts over 200,000 people of Indian origin, fueling strong travel demand.
- Connectivity: Convenient onward connections via Delhi hub to Southeast Asia (Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam).

Voices
- Nipun Aggarwal, CCO, Air India: > “We are delighted to reconnect the two historic capital cities while enabling seamless onward travels via our Delhi hub.”

- Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer, Aeroporti di Roma: > “This new direct connection enhances our offering to the Indian capital and strengthens Rome Fiumicino’s role as a Mediterranean hub.”

With Rome added, Air India now flies non-stop from India to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Rome, Vienna, and Zurich — solidifying its European footprint.