SkyTeam Has a New, Non-Airline Partner in Italy

Updated: October 9, 2024, 2:44pm CDT

Edited by:

Jump to Section

What the Deal Means in Practice
What Is Trenitalia?
Final Thoughts

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

SkyTeam, the airline alliance that includes Delta Air Lines and Air France, has signed an agreement with Trenitalia, the biggest train operator in Italy. The partnership, SkyTeam said in a statement, will “offer customers a wider choice of destinations across Italy.”

The alliance said the agreement means that SkyTeam passengers will be able to use Trenitalia’s high-speed trains, known as Frecciarossa, with a single, combined air and rail ticket.

As well as Delta, SkyTeam includes airlines all over the world. According to the alliance, 14 SkyTeam member airlines currently serve Italy from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

Let’s get into the details of what this means for people traveling to Italy.

What the Deal Means in Practice

Trenitalia is the second non-airline operator to partner with SkyTeam. Earlier this year, the airline alliance reached a deal with train operator Eurostar that intends to provide a seamless way for air passengers to take trains, and vice versa. This new agreement is, in practice, similar.

Let’s say you’re traveling from a U.S. airport to Rome and want to visit Florence as well. Under this new agreement, you would be able to book your flight and a high-speed train connection from the airport, all in the same transaction.

A Delta Air Lines B767-400 in SkyTeam colors landing at New York-JFK. Image credit: Alberto Riva

Maybe best of all, the partnership will provide reciprocal benefits for frequent flyers and train passengers. Members of SkyTeam frequent-flyer programs, like Delta’s SkyMiles, will be able to earn and spend miles on eligible Frecciarossa rail itineraries, the statement said. If they have SkyTeam Elite or Elite Plus status, they will find SkyPriority access available at some Italian train stations. (The statement did not say which.)

Conversely, members of CartaFRECCIA, the loyalty program for Trenitalia passengers, will be able to earn and spend points on eligible SkyTeam flights.

What Is Trenitalia?

Owned by the Italian state, Trenitalia competes with private operator Italo, which uses the same rail network.

Frecciarossa is the marketing name given to Trenitalia’s fastest trains, which can hit 190 mph on purposely built high-speed tracks and offer several classes of service. A search on the Trenitalia site for tickets between Rome and Florence on November 2, 2024, yielded an impressive array of fare choices, ranging from 19€ ($21) for passengers under 30 years old traveling in Standard class to 145€ ($159) for Executive class.

trenitalia fare options — Sample ticket prices on Trenitalia between Rome and Florence. Image Credit: Trenitalia

Do note that Trenitalia’s English-language site appears to recognize only the Italian spelling of the names of Italian cities, so if you are looking for tickets to Florence you will need to type Firenze.

According to SkyTeam, Italian cities served by member airlines that offer Frecciarossa connections include Rome, Milan, Turin, Venice, Genova, Bologna, Florence, Naples, Verona, and Bari.

Hot Tip:

High-speed trains in Italy, as in many European nations, are a faster and more convenient way to move between major cities than by air. Between Milan and Rome, 300 miles apart, Trenitalia and competitor Italo can get you downtown to downtown in 2 hours and 45 minutes.

The deal is a memorandum of understanding at this time and is not final yet. Neither partner gave a date for when single air and rail tickets will go on sale and how they can be booked. We also do not know when those reciprocal benefits will start to accrue, but we will be following any developments and keep you updated.

Final Thoughts

SkyTeam and Italian train operator Trenitalia have signed a deal allowing passengers to travel on Italian high-speed trains using a single air and rail ticket. While we do not know yet when tickets will be bookable, this promises to be a really convenient way to travel around Italy using fast, relatively inexpensive trains.

You’ll even be able to earn miles with your favorite SkyTeam airline while you zip around Italy at 190 mph. If you ask us, we can’t wait to know more.