SkyTeam Partners with Trenitalia to Revolutionize Air+Rail Travel in Italy
The airline alliance has signed its second air+rail partnership in Europe in less than a month
Photo: Courtesy of SkyTeam
Passengers flying from New York to Rome—or any origin served by SkyTeam members—can now seamlessly continue their journeys on a high-speed train to explore the scenic landscapes of Italy—all on a single ticket.
This new capability is part of the latest move from SkyTeam, which inked a partnership with Italy’s national rail operator, Trenitalia, followed closely after the airline alliance group partnered with Eurostar for similar operations.
Announced at the World Aviation Festival in Amsterdam, SkyTeam is deepening its commitment to integrated, sustainable travel by joining forces with Italy’s leading rail operator. But what does this mean for travelers, and how could it shape the future of transportation across Europe?
Air+Rail Reaches Italy
This new partnership between SkyTeam and Trenitalia will allow travelers to book air and rail segments in a single reservation, offering a seamless experience that eliminates the hassle of separate bookings and logistics.
Once all government approvals are in place, passengers can fly into Rome or Milan, collect their luggage, and immediately hop onto one of Trenitalia’s high-speed Frecciarossa trains to continue their journey across Italy.
Rome, Italy, Fiumicino Airport Terminal lounge / Photo: Alina La Cat/Shutterstock
According to Patrick Roux, CEO of SkyTeam, “Partnering with Trenitalia strengthens our intermodal travel strategy, offering more high-quality, high-speed rail connections. Italy is a vital market for business and leisure travelers, and with Trenitalia, customers have more choice and flexibility to go where they want, how they want.”
Trenitalia’s Mario Alovisi, CEO of Italia Loyalty, echoed Roux’s sentiment. “We’re excited to be on this journey with SkyTeam, committed to expanding our network and providing seamless travel experiences for international passengers.”
Enhanced Connectivity Across Italy
With over 270 daily Frecciarossa connections reaching 150 destinations in Italy, Trenitalia is already a major player in the country’s transport infrastructure.
The new air+rail partnership is set to enhance connectivity, particularly for international travelers arriving from markets across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East—many of which are already served by SkyTeam’s 14 member airlines.
For example, travelers could fly from New York-JFK into Rome and then take a Frecciarossa to Naples, Florence, or Venice, all as part of a single, hassle-free itinerary. On the return journey, passengers can enjoy SkyTeam’s SkyPriority services at select train stations, benefiting from smoother transitions, luggage handling, and air and rail travel loyalty points.
Photo: Rome Termini Rail Station. Coutesy of Dan V / Unsplash
One of the standout features of this collaboration is the integration of loyalty programs. SkyTeam frequent flyers will soon be able to earn and redeem miles when traveling on eligible Frecciarossa routes, while members of Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA program can do the same on SkyTeam flights.
This cross-loyalty arrangement extends the benefits to SkyTeam’s Elite Plus and Trenitalia’s CartaFRECCIA Platinum and Gold members, ensuring that high-tier customers can continue enjoying priority services and rewards whether they’re traveling by air or rail.
Sustainability on Top
This partnership is part of the alliance’s sustainability goals. Both SkyTeam and Trenitalia are deeply committed to reducing their environmental impact and promoting eco-friendly travel options.
According to the French Civil Aviation Authority, a passenger flying from Paris-Orly to Nantes—similar to Italy’s busiest route from Rome to Milan—generates 110 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. A train on the same route generates just two pounds.
Photo: Trenitalia Frecciarossa. Courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Rail Europe, Inc.
Arie Bleijenberg, chairman of the Brussels-based Transport & Environment think tank, says that “the potential reduction in CO2 from intra-European aviation, by a modal shift from air travel to railways, is six to 11 percent of the CO2 emissions from intra-European aviation.”
Trenitalia’s high-speed trains already offer a lower-carbon alternative to air travel for domestic routes, and by integrating these two modes of transport, SkyTeam hopes to reduce the need for short-haul flights within Italy.
Photo: Courtesy of Sweder Breet / Unsplash
“This partnership is not just about growing our network but also about making travel more responsible,” says Alovisi.
This is in line with global trends, as airlines and rail operators alike seek to respond to growing customer demand for greener travel options. In fact, SkyTeam’s partnership with Trenitalia mirrors similar collaborations in Europe, such as those between Star Alliance and Deutsche Bahn in Germany. Intermodal travel is becoming an increasingly important strategy for reducing the carbon footprint of international tourism.”
The Road Ahead
As global travelers reconsider their options for getting around, the partnership between SkyTeam and Trenitalia could transform how people explore Italy and possibly all of Europe. However, if ITA Airways leaves SkyTeam to join Star Alliance following its acquisition by the German airlines group, it could significantly impact this new collaboration between SkyTeam and Trenitalia.
Nevertheless, this represents a significant development for the Italian aviation and rail industry, marking a positive step forward and providing passengers with more opportunities to enhance their travel experiences both by air and rail.
