Abu Dhabi’s Etihad to replace Alitalia flights to Rome

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has announced plans for a second daily flight to the Italian capital Rome as Alitalia prepares to discontinue its service.

The airline said additional flights would be introduced in phases beginning on March 25 to reach two a day by May 1.

The additional flights will have an early morning departure from Abu Dhabi and midday return from Rome and bring Etihad’s total flights to Italy to three a day including Milan.

Etihad’s former equity partner Alitalia is discontinuing its Rome-Abu Dhabi service from March 25 but will continue to codeshare on the UAE airline’s new flights.

Passengers that already booked with Alitalia for flights after March 25 will be accommodated on Etihad’s service.

Alitalia entered administration last year after workers rejected a rescue plan.

Etihad took a 49 per cent stake in Alitalia in 2014, promising to turn around the troubled airline with a EUR1.76 billion euro ($1.92bn) investment.

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