Alitalia Resumes Direct Service Between Italy and South Korea after 20 Years

The national airline of Italy – Alitalia, will resume direct services between Italy and South Korea after more than 20 years, with a new flight between Rome and Seoul.

The first flight will take off from Rome today (June 4) when the airline will also unveil its new brand design and livery at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

“Thanks to this new direct service, Alitalia will further strengthen it flight offering to the east, where we have already commenced services to Abu Dhabi from Milan and Venice, and to Shanghai from Milan. This non-stop service will encourage incoming tourism, especially visits to Milan and Expo 2015, and support Italian exports to the Far East and trade between Italian and Korean companies,” said Silvano Cassano, CEO of Alitalia.

The new service to the South Korean capital will operate three-times-weekly during the summer 2015 schedule, increase to four-times-weekly at the end of October.

The airline revealed its fresh new livery at Rome Fiumicino Airport, early today (June 4).

From Rome Fiumicino Airport, flights to Seoul will depart every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 15:00pm, arriving into Seoul at 09:25am the following day. Flights from Seoul will depart every Monday, Friday and Sunday at 13:30pm, arriving into the Italian capital at 19:05pm.

The route will be operated with an Airbus A330 aircraft configured into three classes with a total of 250 seats.

“As well as introducing our new visual identity, we will also strengthen our intercontinental network with the launch of a new long-haul service, the fourth in 2015. This is in line with our strategic plan and commitment to strengthen our long-haul network,” added Cassano.

Alitalia will operate the service in conjunction with codeshare partner, Korean Air, which has added its “KE” code to the service, while Alitalia already has its “AZ” code on the Korean Air service between Seoul and Rome and Milan. Together, the airlines offer a daily service between South Korea and Italy.

The airline has also invested in the Chinese market for its Asian expansion. A month ahead of the Incheon-Rome route, Alitalia began offering direct flights to Shanghai on May 1, 2015. By the end of the year, the carrier will resume services for its Beijing-Rome route.