ITA Airways Axes Flights To The United States

ITA Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to the United States for the upcoming 2026/27 Northern Winter season.

The Italian carrier, as flagged by AeroRoutes in its latest schedule update, will suspend services from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Houston (IAH), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington Dulles (IAD) in parts of the first two months of 2027.

These adjustments reduce ITA Airways’ transatlantic presence. Still, softer travel demand to the United States is driving route changes, such as Lufthansa’s A380 redeployment during the same period.

ITA Airways Reduces U.S. Network

According to the latest filing, the Rome Fiumicino (FCO)–Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) route will operate three times a week with the Airbus A330-900 from 25 October 2026; however, it will then suspend service from 9 January through 28 February 2027.

The temporary axing of the route comes less than a year after the launch between the two cities and represented the first nonstop link between Rome and Houston. The initial three weekly flights increased to five during the Northern Summer but will be suspended during the lowest-demand portion of the Winter schedule.

ITA Airways will also pause service between Rome Fiumicino and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from 11 January to 1 March 2027. Additionally, Rome Fiumicino-Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) will not operate from 10 January through 1 March 2027.

Both routes typically form an important part of the airline’s North American presence; however, Washington is typically operated during higher-demand periods, so its seasonality affects scheduling.

While ITA Airways makes these changes without providing reasons, the timing follows typical industry patterns, as this is the lowest-demand part of the calendar year. With airlines typically using their widebodies to serve these markets, overcapacity is a risk, necessitating redeployment during this brief period to maintain margins.

Despite the reductions, the broader North American network remains robust for the Northern Winter season, with the network expanded to nine destinations after adding Houston’s A330neo flights. The route map includes Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington, San Francisco and Toronto, Canada.

ITA Airways Shifts Capacity To Other Markets

While ITA Airways reduces capacity across its U.S. network, it will redeploy these aircraft, typically serving Houston and Washington, elsewhere during the colder months. The carrier intends to strengthen select long-haul routes temporarily.

ITA Airways will initially reduce Rome Fiumicino–Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport (EZE) services between late October and mid-November, then, from 15 November, increase frequency to 10 weekly flights with the Airbus A350.

Meanwhile, Rome Fiumicino–Velana International Airport (MLE) will expand during the first quarter of 2027 as a consequence of the A330neo changes to the United States, with three weekly flights increasing to four in January and five from 4 January through 27 March.

The revisions, with more expected as the Northern Winter 2026/27 schedule approaches, allow ITA Airways to remain present in North America while responding more effectively to demand shifts to protect finances, utilisation rates, and margins.