The air travel connection between the United States and Italy continues to grow and 2026 will bring an expanded network of direct routes across both major hubs and regional airports. Airlines are strengthening their summer schedules with returning seasonal services, such as Chicago-Naples and Dallas-Venice, while also introducing new links like United’s Newark-Bari (Apulia) and Delta’s first-ever nonstop JFK-Olbia (Sardinia) flight. These additions reflect rising demand and offer travelers faster access to Italy’s most popular cities as well as emerging destinations that were previously harder to reach.
These newly announced routes also tend to offer excellent opportunities for redeeming miles. When airlines launch or reopen a transatlantic service, they often release a larger amount of award inventory to stimulate demand, making it easier to secure nonstop flights, sometimes at lower mileage levels than usual, before availability tightens. Below is a complete overview of all the new, confirmed and returning USA-Italy nonstop routes planned for 2026.
Chicago to Naples on American Airlines
American Airlines will resume its seasonal Chicago-Naples route in May 2026, operating daily through the summer after a strong inaugural performance in 2025. As the only nonstop link between the U.S. Midwest and southern Italy, this service finally allows travelers to reach Campania without transiting through Rome or other European hubs.
Landing in Naples gives travelers immediate access to Campania’s most sought-after destinations: the Amalfi and Sorrento coasts, the islands of Capri and Ischia plus Pompei and Mount Vesuvius, all within one to two hours from the airport. Beyond the city’s historic center and buzzing waterfront, this route opens the door to some of Italy’s most dramatic Mediterranean landscapes.
Dallas to Venice on American Airlines
American Airlines will resume its seasonal DFW-Venice service starting June 5, 2026, with daily flights, following its first-ever launch in June 2025. The route operates seasonally and remains the only nonstop connection between Texas and northeastern Italy, offering a direct long-haul link from one of America’s largest hubs.
Flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport gives immediate access not only to the lagoon city, its canals, palaces and Lido beaches, but also to the Veneto region and beyond. From Venice, travelers can easily reach Verona, Padua, the Prosecco Hills and the Dolomites, turning this flight into a strategic entry point for both cultural itineraries and outdoor escapes across northern Italy.
Newark to Palermo on United Airlines
United Airlines will operate its seasonal Newark-Palermo service beginning May 22, 2026, flying three times a week, a continuation of the route first launched in May 2025. This nonstop connection restores a direct link between the U.S. East Coast and Sicily, significantly improving access to southern Italy’s largest island.
Palermo is a strategic entry point to western Sicily: from its UNESCO-listed Arab-Norman landmarks to the lively markets of Ballarò and Vucciria, the city offers a dense concentration of cultural heritage. The airport also provides quick access to renowned coastal areas like Mondello, the archaeological sites of Segesta and Agrigento and the charming towns of Cefalù and Trapani, making it an efficient hub for exploring multiple sides of Sicily within a single trip.
Newark to Bari on United Airlines
United Airlines will launch its brand-new Newark-Bari route on May 1, 2026, operating four times a week throughout the summer. This marks the first-ever nonstop connection between the U.S. and Apulia, opening a direct gateway to one of Italy’s fastest-growing tourism regions and eliminating the need for transfers through Rome, Milan or European hubs.
Arriving in Bari gives travelers immediate access to the heart of Apulia, a region known for its whitewashed old towns, coastline and signature trulli architecture. From the port city of Bari, visitors can easily reach Polignano a Mare, Alberobello, the Valle d’Itria and the long Adriatic beaches stretching toward Salento.
JFK to Olbia on Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines will inaugurate the first-ever nonstop connection between the United States and Sardinia on May 20, 2026, operating four weekly flights from New York JFK to Olbia throughout the summer season. As Delta expands its Italian network, this route introduces direct U.S. access to one of the country’s most exclusive and geographically unique island regions.
Landing in Olbia places travelers at the gateway to Costa Smeralda and northeastern Sardinia, an area known for its turquoise coves, granite cliffs and upscale seaside towns like Porto Cervo. From Olbia, visitors can also reach the La Maddalena Archipelago, the rugged interior of Gallura and a coastline dotted with some of the most celebrated beaches in the Mediterranean.
Seattle to Rome on Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines will launch its first-ever transatlantic service on May 23, 2026, introducing a four-times-weekly seasonal route from Seattle to Rome. This marks the airline’s debut in the European long-haul market and adds a new West Coast gateway to Italy for summer travelers.
Flying directly into Rome gives U.S. passengers immediate access to Italy’s capital with its archaeological sites, museums and historic neighborhoods. From Rome, visitors can continue easily toward Tuscany, Umbria, the Amalfi Coast or even high-speed train routes that connect to Florence, Naples and Milan, making this new service a strong option for multi-stop itineraries across the country.
Houston to Rome on ITA Airways
ITA Airways will launch its new Rome Fiumicino-Houston nonstop service on May 1, 2026, operating three times per week through May and increasing to five weekly frequencies from June through late October. This seasonal route adds a fresh transatlantic link between Texas and Italy, giving U.S. travelers direct access to the Italian capital.
Beyond Rome itself, this new service provides a strategic gateway to central Italy’s lesser-known regions. Travelers can head east toward Abruzzo for national parks, hilltop villages and Adriatic beaches or venture north into the Marche to explore Renaissance towns, dramatic coastal cliffs and renowned wine areas.
Boston to Milan on JetBlue
JetBlue will launch its new Boston-Milan service on May 11, 2026, operating daily throughout the summer. This marks JetBlue’s first entry into the Italian market from Boston, expanding the carrier’s transatlantic presence and adding a new nonstop option between New England and northern Italy.
Arriving in Milan offers direct access to Italy’s financial and fashion capital, home to landmarks like the Duomo and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. Milan also connects travelers efficiently to the Lombardy region, including Lake Como, Bergamo and the Alpine foothills.
Miami to Milan on American Airlines
American Airlines will launch a new seasonal Miami-Milan service in late May 2026, operating daily throughout the summer. This route strengthens the carrier’s presence in Italy and restores a nonstop connection between south Florida and northern Italy, catering to both leisure and business travelers.
Milan Malpensa serves as a major gateway to northern Italy, with fast connections to Lake Como, the Alps and Piedmont’s wine territories. It also opens convenient access to the Ligurian coast, including Cinque Terre and Portofino, which can be reached in a few hours by train. This makes the new route a practical starting point for travelers interested in combining Italy’s cultural capitals with its most scenic coastal and mountain regions.
The growth of direct flights means reduced travel times, fewer connections and a wider range of departure cities across the U.S. It also reflects the extraordinary momentum Italy is experiencing in global tourism, with rising demand for both iconic cities and lesser-known regions.
This expanded network makes reaching the “Bel Paese” easier than ever, opening the door to more spontaneous trips, deeper regional exploration and those long-awaited journeys that begin the moment you step onto a nonstop flight.