Big news for Ankara’s tourism and business scene—direct flights to Rome and Milan might soon be back on the table, and that could be a game-changer. During a recent meeting between Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) President Gürsel Baran and Italy’s Ambassador to Ankara, Giorgio Marrapodi, the revival of these routes was discussed as a key step for expanding tourism, trade, and investment between the two countries.
A Long-Awaited Link to Europe’s Heart
Ankara has been working for years to expand its direct international flight options. According to Baran, Rome and Milan have always been priority destinations. In fact, Ankara-Rome direct flights had already launched in 2019 thanks to ATO’s efforts, but were unfortunately disrupted by the pandemic. Now, there’s renewed momentum to get them back in operation—and not just for convenience.
Baran emphasized that Ankara is not just Turkey’s capital, but a rapidly growing hub for industry, trade, and tourism. The city plays a central role in Turkey’s defense industry and is home to major companies like ASELSAN, TUSAŞ, and Roketsan, as well as a thriving ecosystem of universities, industrial zones, technoparks, and R&D centers.
Tourism with a Business Edge
While Ankara may not always be the first city that comes to mind for tourism in Turkey, it’s steadily carving out a niche, especially in areas like health and elderly tourism. Baran sees direct flights to Italy as a natural extension of this growth, creating smoother travel for tourists and opening new doors for collaboration in health services, education, energy, and more.
With an existing trade volume of $1.7 billion between Italy and Ankara alone, there’s already a strong economic connection. Direct flights could help strengthen that bridge—making it easier for businesspeople to travel, for cultural exchange to flourish, and for both cities to benefit from new tourism flows.
All eyes are now on whether these flight routes will officially return soon. If they do, Ankara could find itself playing a much larger role on the international stage.
