ALITALIA AIRLINES HOSTS LOS ANGELES TRAVEL AGENTS AND TRAVEL MANAGERS AT EVENT HERALDING NEW NONSTOP SERVICE TO ROME

(Los Angeles, California - April 25, 2008) -- More than 100 travel agents and corporate travel managers joined Alitalia Airlines officials in celebrating the inauguration of new nonstop LAX-Rome service beginning June 1.

In an event hosted by Los Angeles World Airports and Alitalia at the LAX Flight Path Learning Center and Museum on April 17, Alitalia officials briefed its travel industry partners on the new service that will link Los Angeles and Rome with nonstop Boeing 777-200 service five times per week.

LAX officials said they were pleased that Alitalia had chosen LAX as its U.S. West Coast gateway. The opening of the non-stop route between LAX and Rome will strengthen business, tourism and cultural ties with one of the most desirable cities in Europe, while providing improved connecting service to more southern European destinations.

The travel partners said advance bookings for the new service were strong.