Remember Alitalia, Italy's national airline? Now it is ITA Airways, centopercento Italiano: 100 percent Italian. It is also the Pope's choice. In fact, the Supreme Pontiff flew with ITA Airways for his papal flight on September 13 from Rome Fiumicino to Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in Kazahkstan.

The flight was operated on an Airbus A330 with the new blue livery. The Holy Father departed from Terminal 5 of Rome Fiumicino's Leonardo da Vinci Airport for the second time.

Fabio Maria Lazzerini, ITA Airways CEO, and Emiliana Limosani, ITA Airways Chief Commercial Officer, greeted the Holy Father at Fiumicino Airport. A crew of 12 people made up of 3 pilots, and 9 flight attendants accompanied the Sovereign of the State of Vatican City on his journey. Commander Massimiliano Marselli, with 18,000 hours of flight experience, was the supervisor of onboard activities.

Fabio Lazzorini, CEO,  ITA  Airways

The papal delegation and the Italian and International press representatives traveled with Pope Francis. Furthermore, ITA Airways' team dedicated to special flights was on board. To accompany the Supreme Pontiff on his trip is for ITA Airways an honor and a demonstration of the recognition of the Company's values which places sustainability at the center of its strategy, as the Holy Father constantly recalls in his testimonies.

It will soon be possible to fly to the Maldives with ITA Airways. First, fly to Rome on ITA's great non-stop flight from LAX to Rome Fiumicino. From Rome, flights to Malé will become operative from December 17, 2022, to March 26, 2023. On all ITA Airways' sales channels, purchasing tickets for the new direct flight from Rome to the Maldives will be possible. From December 17, the flight will be operated three times a week until January 22 and twice a week from January 23 until the end of the winter season. Thanks to ITA Airways' extensive network, it will also be possible to fly to the Maldives thanks to the Company's convenient connections with flights from the main European airports.

ITA Airways expands its presence on the intercontinental market and over the Indian Ocean. The Company responds to customers' strong demand for one of the most sought-after destinations in world tourism, the Maldives. With the new Rome Fiumicino - Malé flight, ITA Airways reaches eight intercontinental destinations out of 63, with 22 domestic and 33 international destinations. All new ITA Airways flights can be purchased at ita-airways.com. 

Source: Pam Price