The aircraft is configured with 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 238 seats in Economy Class. Representational pic
Air India on Tuesday announced the resumption of its non-stop services between Delhi and Rome, marking its return to the Italian capital after nearly six years and further expanding its European network. The airline's Rome services had remained suspended since the Covid-19 pandemic.
The flights will resume from March 25, 2026, with Air India operating four services a week between Delhi and Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (Fiumicino). The timing is expected to benefit travellers planning spring and summer holidays in Europe, while also offering passengers from Italy improved access to India and onward connections to Southeast Asia via Delhi.
The Delhi-Rome service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays using Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. The aircraft is configured with 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 238 seats in Economy Class.
Nipun Aggarwal, chief commercial officer, Air India, said connecting India with more global destinations remained a key priority for the airline.
"India and Italy share deep-rooted commonalities in culture, business and trade, which makes Rome a natural addition to Air India's expanding network. This non-stop service not only augments direct connectivity between the two capital cities but also offers travellers from Italy greater choice and seamless onward connections via our Delhi hub," he said.
Ivan Bassato, chief aviation officer, Aeroporti di Roma, termed the resumption of services a strategically important development.
"This new service addresses growing demand across key traffic segments, further strengthening economic and cultural ties between Italy and India and broadening opportunities for exchange between the two countries," he said.
Italy is among India's largest trading partners in Europe, with passenger traffic between the two nations continuing to rise, supported by a sizeable Indian diaspora in Italy and increasing interest among Indian travellers in Italian art, history and cuisine.
Air India said the Rome flights have been timed to offer convenient connections via Delhi to destinations such as Bangkok, Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phuket, and Singapore.
From March 25 to 27, 2026, flight AI123 will depart Delhi at 1.15 pm and arrive in Rome at 6 pm, while return flight AI122 will leave Rome at 7.50 pm and arrive in Delhi at 9 am the following day. From March 29, 2026, onwards, the Delhi-Rome flight will arrive at 6.55 pm, while the Rome-Delhi service will depart at 8.50 pm. All the timings are local.
With the addition of Rome, Air India will serve eight destinations in mainland Europe and three in the United Kingdom. Bookings for the Delhi-Rome flights are being progressively opened across all channels, including the airline's website, mobile app, airport ticketing offices, contact centres and travel agents worldwide, Air India said in a press release.
