ITA Airways has introduced a new onboard dining experience for passengers travelling on intercontinental flights this summer, featuring regional Italian dishes in Business Class and gelato in Premium Economy and Economy. The enhanced menus are available on flights departing from Rome Fiumicino as the airline continues to strengthen its focus on showcasing Italy’s culinary heritage.
The updated food and beverage offering forms part of the carrier’s wider strategy to improve the passenger experience while promoting Italian food and wine from the moment travellers board the aircraft. The announcement comes as ITA Airways expands its summer network to 72 destinations across domestic, international and intercontinental markets.
The centrepiece of the new dining programme is a refreshed Business Class menu inspired by Italy’s regional cuisines. Designed around seasonal ingredients, the menu combines traditional recipes with contemporary presentation to create what the airline describes as a culinary journey across the country.
The meal begins with a Tuscan-style panzanella followed by an octopus and potato appetiser inspired by the flavours of Campania. Pasta options include scrigni filled with burrata, reflecting the traditions of Puglia, and fregola with pistachios, shrimp and lemon, influenced by the cuisines of Sardinia and Sicily.
Main courses feature two well known dishes from the Lazio region: Saltimbocca alla Romana and cuttlefish with peas. Dessert completes the experience with ricotta and sour cherries, celebrating another classic flavour combination from central Italy.
The airline said the recipes have been reinterpreted with a contemporary approach while preserving the traditions and ingredients that define Italian regional cooking. The aim is to offer passengers a genuine taste of Italy before they arrive at their destination.
Premium Italian products join the onboard experience
Business Class passengers will also find new premium Italian products on board. The airline has added Bellavista Alma Assemblage Franciacorta to its wine selection, expanding the range of Italian sparkling wines available during the flight.
Following positive passenger feedback during last year’s trial, bread served with I&P Extra Virgin Grand Cru Monte Freddo Caninese olive oil will now become a permanent feature of the Business Class meal service.
Passengers travelling in Premium Economy and Economy Class on intercontinental flights departing from Rome Fiumicino will also receive a seasonal upgrade, with gelato now included as part of the onboard meal service throughout the summer.
Dining enhancements accompany network growth
The new culinary programme arrives as ITA Airways continues to expand its international network for the 2026 summer season. The airline now serves 72 destinations and has increased capacity on several key long haul and regional routes.
One of the most significant additions is the new nonstop route between Rome Fiumicino and Houston, the first direct service linking the two cities. The airline has already increased the service to as many as five weekly flights, reinforcing its position in the North American market alongside expanded services to Miami.
The summer schedule also includes new routes to Málaga, Valencia, Marseille, Mykonos, Alicante and Trapani, together with additional frequencies to Southern Italy and the country’s islands.
In Asia and the Middle East, ITA Airways has increased flights to Bangkok and Delhi while resuming services to Tel Aviv using the Airbus A321neo. The airline said its flexible capacity strategy allows it to respond to changing market demand while maintaining operational performance and customer service.
By combining an expanded route network with enhanced onboard dining, ITA Airways is seeking to strengthen its position as Italy’s national carrier while giving international travellers an authentic introduction to the country’s food, wine and regional traditions before they even land.
