Next year is your year to go to Italy.
This nonstop flight from New York (JFK) to Rome (FCO) is just the tip of the iceberg. We've seen cash prices under $600 roundtrip from close to 100 U.S. and Canadian airports flying to Italian destinations like Florence (FLR), Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP), Naples (NAP), Venice (VCE), and more!
But here's the thing: We have reason to believe this trend is just getting started. Airlines will be flying nonstop to Italy significantly more than they did in 2024 or any other year – and to more cities, too. It seems like most of the major airlines are all targeting the country at the same time. And all that new capacity is going to make competition fierce.
That's competition for your travel dollars. The airlines are going to start fighting to be the ones to take you to Italy. Let them!
More Flights to Italy in 2025
Twelve airlines will operate flights between North America and Italy next year, and almost all of them plan to increase how often they'll fly those routes.
From Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, there will be a 6.5% increase in flying capacity between North American and Italy in 2025 compared to 2024, according to data from the aviation analytics company, Cirium. That's about 2,000 more nonstop flights criss-crossing the Atlantic than there were this year.
Why is this happening? Because all but one of these airlines (low-cost carrier Neos) plan to fly to Italy more than they did in 2024.
Here are the airlines that plan to fly between North America and Italy in 2025:
- Air Canada
- Air Transat
- American
- Delta
- Emirates
- ITA
- La Compagnie
- Norse Atlantic
- Neos
- United
- WestJet
Exciting New Routes
Five of those airlines also have brand new (or returning) routes debuting in 2025. Among them are American and Delta, both of which added some fun new lines to their route maps.
Air Canada
- Montreal (YUL) to Naples (NAP) – begins May 16
American
- Dallas (DFW) to Venice (VCE) – begins June 5
- Miami (MIA) to Rome (FCO) – begins June 5
- Chicago (ORD) to Naples (NAP) – begins May 6
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Milan (MXP) – begins May 23
American ended one route, too. Chicago (ORD) to Venice (VCE) will not operate in 2025.
Delta
- Atlanta (ATL) to Naples (NAP) – begins Mar. 29
- Boston (BOS) to Milan (MXP) – begins May 23
- New York (JFK) to Catania (CTA) – begins May 22
- Minneapolis (MSP) to Rome (FCO) – begins May 23
Norse Atlantic
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Rome (FCO) – begins May 22
United
- Newark (EWR) to Palermo (PMO) – begins May 21
Rome, Milan, Venice, & More Under $599 RT
That 6.5% increase in flying between North America and Italy is going to drive down prices. But here's a secret: Flight prices to Italy have already been good over the last few months.
Our Thrifty Traveler Premium members already know this. They see fares like these in their email inboxes all the time when we send them flight deal alerts.
This Dallas (DFW) to Milan (MXP) fare flying American and its partner British Airways is a sweet deal, but you don't have to be based near a major airport to Italy for less than $599 roundtrip.
From Peoria, Illinois (PIA) to Philadelphia (PHL), cities of all sizes were able to take advantage of these outstanding prices.
That flight deal above was mostly flying American Airlines, but Delta would not be outdone.
Delta and American butting heads over the chance to fly you to Italy is great news for you and me! All of these fares below are flying Delta across the pond instead.
It's only a matter of time until more Italy fares pop up. Make sure you're ready when they do.
Got Points? Fly Emirates to Italy for 35K RT
“Emirates? Like, the U.A.E. airline? Sorry, I'm not flying to the Middle East just to fly back to Italy.”
I know, I know, but this is different. And that's because Emirates flies a special, one-off route between New York (JFK) and Milan (MXP). And those special flights can be booked for some special rates, too.
Don't have Emirates Skywards Miles? Don't sweat it. If you have American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, or Citi points, you can transfer them to Emirates and book these flights for just 35,000 miles roundtrip!
To fly one of the fanciest airlines on earth for that few points is amazing. Almost as amazing as the fact that Emirates actually lowered these economy rates this year.
(You guys…read that again. An airline made its points more valuable. Did I miss the parade?)
Read more: The Weirdest Airline Routes in the World (& How to Book Them!)
Lie-Flat Business Class From 54K Points
In total, there will be about 40,000 more business class seats flying to and from Italy and North America in 2025 than there were in 2024, according Cirium data. That's a nearly 6% increase from the year prior.
Delta will fly the most business class seats between North America and Italy next year, increasing the number of lie-flat seats to Italy by more than 17% In the summer, Delta will beat its 2024 flying by a whopping 26% next year! The other airlines also all made increases by a few percentage points, including airlines like Air Canada, American, and United.
As the carriers increase their lie-flat flying, these seats could be easier than ever to find and book using points and miles or cash next year. And we're already starting to see this trend take hold…
Just a few weeks ago, our Thrifty Traveler Premium flight deal alert members woke up to find this in their inbox.
It's a flight deal alert for lie-flat American Airlines Business Class seats bookable with miles from Philadelphia (PHL) to Rome (FCO)!
If you have 54,000 American Airlines miles, 55,000 Alaska miles, 78,000 Qatar Avios, or 63,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (or any of the points that transfer to those programs), you could make those seats yours!
Another lovely way to fly lie-flat to Italy is on Italian airline ITA Airways. We flew this swanky new seat earlier this year and thought it was a great use of miles.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points are the best way to book these seats. You can transfer points to Virgin from all of the major banks (Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, Citi, and even Wells Fargo) to book from several U.S. cities.
But you don't need a stockpile of points to fly business class to Italy, either. Sometimes, fares bookable with cash are available, too. Enter Condor Airlines…
Condor – a little known German airline with a surprisingly sweet business class product – also flies to several Italian cities after a connection in Frankfurt (FRA).
These fares were real! We heard from some subscribers who snagged this deal to book a dream vacation.
That's not all. Like we mentioned above, Emirates flies nonstop to Italy, too – and those planes are equipped with one of the world's best business class cabins, too. And when you book one of these seats, you get access to this onboard bar on the massive, double-decker Airbus A380.
Oh, and the business class seats? They'll only cost you 108,000 Emirates miles … roundtrip.
You can turn credit card points from nearly all of the major banks (Amex, Bilt, Capital One, Chase, or Citi) into the Emirates miles you need to book, too.
First Class to Milan, Anyone?
Are you tired of me saying, “But wait, there's more!” yet? You shouldn't be, because the very best seats on this plane are Emirates uber-fancy First Class suites. And those are rarely bookable, too.
The last time they were bookable, we found out in our daily searches of Emriates Skywards miles. Within minutes, we had this award alert in our travelers inboxes. We even had a few team members book it. We'll see you at JFK!
Bottom Line
Thousands more flights are expected to connect the U.S. and Canada to Italy in 2025, meaning low fares and better award availability are sure to follow.
That makes 2025 is the year to book a trip to Italy. When the airlines compete for your business, let them! Keep an eye out for cheap flights to Italy, or subscribe to Thrifty Traveler Premium and we'll do it for you.