CHICAGO – The City of Chicago today announced Air Italy will begin a new direct service to Milan (MXP) from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) in May of 2019. This new route will provide Chicago’s only direct service to Italy’s second-largest city, supporting Chicago’s growing business partnership with its Sister City, Milan, and generating new economic impact from O’Hare.

The additional service to Milan builds on Chicago-O’Hare’s rapidly growing international connectivity—with 17 new international routes begun in 2018, and four already announced for 2019.

“New direct service to Milan from O’Hare is fueling Chicago’s leading connectivity to the world," said Jamie L. Rhee, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation. “Each new international route added has a significant impact on the local economy, and increases Chicago’s connection to our global counterparts. We thank our newest airline partner, Air Italy, for choosing to increase world class services from the nation’s best connected hub.”

The service by O’Hare’s newest air carrier, Air Italy, supports the City’s growing global business and trade partnerships across Milan and throughout Europe. In addition to putting Chicago closer to Milan, when launched, the new route is then expected to generate a $60 million annual economic impact to the Chicago region. 

“Our customers flying between the US and Italy and beyond, now have even more choices, and thanks to our new direct flight from Chicago to Milan, they will be able to experience our superb Italian hospitality and unique on-board service,” said Rossen Dimitrov, Air Italy Chief Operating Officer. “Adding a direct nonstop route to and from Milan means we can now welcome more corporate travelers, the large Italian community living in Chicago and Illinois, as well as serve more tourists travelling between the United States and Italy.”

More than 60 Chicago-area companies have a presence in Italy, with over 30 companies having a presence in Milan itself including CNA, FCB Worldwide, Hyatt, JLL, McDonald’s, and Motorola Solutions. Conversely, there are roughly 50 Italian companies with a presence in the Chicago area, including Milan-based companies Luxottica and Amplifion. These business connections make Italy one of Illinois’ largest trading partners—moving over $2.8 billion in goods in and out of the state in 2017 alone.

“As we celebrate the 45^th anniversary of the Sister City relationship between Chicago and Milan this year, we are thrilled that Air Italy will begin a direct flight between the two cities in 2019,” said Andrea Zopp, president and CEO of World Business Chicago. “The flight will only further increase the already strong economic and cultural bond between Chicago and Milan, and all of Italy.”

This new, three times weekly service will depart from O’Hare at 6:25pm, arriving to Milan at 10:35am the following day; and will depart from Milan at 1:10 pm local time, arriving at 4:25pm Chicago time the same day.

“By having a direct flight to our Sister City of Milan, Chicago’s dynamic Italian-American community will benefit from having increased access to connect with our heritage and our friends and family in Italy,” said Joseph Monastero, chair of the Milan Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International. “It will also provide all Chicagoans the long-overdue return to year-round, non-stop service to Italy’s economic and industrial center, and will further strengthen the business and tourism ties between our two cities.”

 All flights to Milan will be operated by Air Italy’s new long haul Airbus A330-200, which offers up to 24 fully lie-flat seats in the exclusive Business Class cabin, making it possible to fly with maximum comfort. 

The Business Class offers signature Italian cuisine accompanied by a selection of champagnes and Italian fine wines, Wi-Fi service, and an extensive inflight entertainment service. The aircraft’s Economy Class cabin features 228 seats, and also provides passengers with personalized service, Wi-Fi and a wide range of entertainment.

O'Hare has been ranked number one for connectivity among U.S. mega hub airports for the past three years in a row, based on the highest ratio of possible scheduled flights to destinations served. In 2018, Chicago became one of few cities in the world to offer nonstop passenger air service to all six major inhabited regions of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America).

Air Italy is Italy’s second largest airline and one of the fastest-growing in Europe. The company has expanded to serve multiple new destinations in 2018, adding among others both New York and Miami. Air Italy’s fleet is comprised of three Boeing 737 MAX, seven Boeing 737 NG, five Airbus A330 and one Boeing 767-300.

For more information about Air Italy and to purchase tickets, please visit www.airitaly.com.