New flight routes
Several airlines have announced new direct flights to and from Italy in 2025, with multiple routes connecting major American airports with popular Italian travel destinations.
American Airlines will offer daily direct flights from Chicago O’Hare to Naples Capodichino from May 6th, and daily direct services from Dallas-Fort Worth to Venice Marco Polo from June 5th.
Delta Air Lines will open up four new direct routes to Italy next summer (New York JFK-Catania, Minneapolis-Rome, Boston-Milan and Atlanta-Naples), while United Airlines will launch direct links between Denver and Rome, Newark and Palermo, Washington and Venice.
Private Italian airline Neos has also recently announced it will operate a weekly direct flight connecting New York JFK to Bari International Airport from June 3rd to October 15th.
You can find a full list of new direct flights to and from Italy HERE.
Rules on liquids
The deployment of new high-tech EDSCB (Explosive Detection Systems for Cabin Baggage) scanners enabled some major airports across the EU, including Milan Linate, terminal 1 at Milan Malpensa and terminal 1 at Rome Fiumicino, to scrap the long-standing 100ml limit on liquids, aerosols, and gels being carried in hand luggage early last year.
But the limit was abruptly reintroduced at airports using the new technology on September 1st following concerns over the scanners’ reliability.
The European Commission said the reintroduction of the 100ml limit was “temporary”, but, nearly five months on, no date has been set for when the rules on liquids will change again.
In the meantime, passengers travelling through European airports, including Italian hubs, are asked to follow the old rules (100ml limit) on carrying liquids in hand luggage.
Major changes for travel in and out of the EU
Originally scheduled to come into force in 2022, the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) and European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) have been repeatedly delayed due to incomplete border infrastructure.
After its rollout was postponed for the third time in November, the EES is now set to be gradually phased in over a six-month period in 2025. However, the exact start date for the phased rollout has not been announced yet.
The ETIAS system should come into force six months after the launch of EES checks.
You can find a full explanation of the upcoming changes HERE, but this is what they mean in brief.
EES - This is essentially a security upgrade, replacing the current system relying on border guards with an electronic swipe in/swipe out system that will register more details, including travellers’ immigration status.
Following its introduction, non-EU travellers first entering the Schengen/EU area, including Italy, will need to register their name, biometric data (fingerprints and facial scans) and the date and place of entry and exit. Data will be retained for three years after initial registration.
These checks will only apply when crossing an EU external border, not to travel within the EU/EEA itself.
The checks won’t apply to anyone travelling on an EU/EEA passport, or anyone with residency in an EU/EEA country (i.e. residency permit, or permesso di soggiorno, holders).
ETIAS - This change mainly affects non-EU nationals travelling to an EU country on holiday. It does not apply to anyone travelling on an EU/EEA passport, or anyone who has a visa or residency permit for an EU/EEA country.
It is essentially a visa waiver, which must be applied for online in advance. It costs €7 but is free of charge for people aged over 70 and under 18s. Once granted, it is valid for three years.
The system is similar to the ESTA visa required for short stays in the US.
New rules for UK travel
There’s a big change afoot for people travelling to the UK in 2025: the introduction of a new visa waiver known as ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation).
Modelled after the United States’ ESTA, the ETA is a visa waiver that people who previously benefited from visa-free travel to the UK for short stays must apply for ahead of their journey.
It costs £10 per person and, once granted, lasts two years, allowing multiple entries into the UK.
The ETA requirement is already in place for non-EU, non-EEA nationals entering the UK, but will be extended to all EU nationals from April 2nd.
People travelling on a UK or Irish passport are exempt from the requirement. UK visa holders and people who have residency status in the UK (for example EU nationals who moved before Brexit and have Settled or Pre-Settled Status) are also exempt.
You can find full details HERE. We also answered some of our readers' most common questions on the new requirement in this article.
ITA Airways-Lufthansa merger
German carrier Lufthansa acquired a 41-percent stake in Italian state-owned airline ITA Airways on January 15th, bringing years of negotiations to a close.
The deal shouldn’t result in major changes for ITA passengers – at least in 2025.
However, in order to have the merger approved by the European Commission, Lufthansa pledged to give up take-off and landing rights at Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino, where British budget airline Easyjet will set up new bases in spring.
EasyJet has already announced it will launch some 16 new routes from Milan Linate alone in 2025, with destinations including Lisbon, Barcelona, Manchester and Copenhagen.
More air transport strikes
Strikes affecting air travel are frequent in Italy, and 2025 should be no exception, as unions representing air traffic controllers and baggage handlers have said they will continue putting pressure on employers in the coming months, demanding higher wages, enhanced workplace safety measures and the renewal of expired collective labour agreements.
A number of walkouts have already been called for the coming weeks, including a 24-hour nationwide protest involving baggage handlers at airports around the country on February 5th.
READ ALSO: KEY DATES: The transport strikes to expect in Italy this winter
You can follow all the latest updates about transport strikes in Italy in our strike news section.
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