NEWS: ITA to Return to Heathrow, Virgin Atlantic’s New Menu Revealed & Radisson Debuts in Florence

ITA Airways to Return to Heathrow

At the World Travel Market this week, ITA announced that it will resume services from Heathrow, starting on 29th March 2026, with two daily flights between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Heathrow. There will be a morning and afternoon departure in both directions:

ITA hasn’t had slots at Heathrow since 2023, when its operations were relocated to London City. This was blamed on expensive slot leases, but now ITA has left SkyTeam and is moving to Star Alliance, bringing many changes, including slots made available by the Lufthansa Group.

There are currently up to 43 weekly flights between London City and Rome/Milan. However, the London City to Rome FCO route will be discontinued, while flights to Milan Linate will still be available.

Eugene flew ITA from LCY to Dubai earlier this year with an extremely good fare. It will be interesting to see if they continue these rates from Heathrow.

Flights from Heathrow will operate on an Airbus A320neo instead of the A220 currently used for UK flights and depart from LHR Terminal 2, where you’ll be able to use the Lufthansa lounge and other Star Alliance lounges.

This is excellent news, especially if you’re loyalty programme of choice is a Star Alliance airline. There will now be much better connections via FCO to access ITA’s long-haul network, eliminating the need to travel from London City. This includes new routes, such as FCO to Mauritius (launching today) and Malé. You can also book codeshare flights with airlines like Air Canada and United, thanks to the ongoing network expansion and new Star Alliance partners.

Business Class tickets range from £169 – £201 – £300 (averaging £229). Economy tickets range from £91 to £218. Bookings are already open.

View the ITA site here >>>

Virgin Atlantic launches new Autumn/Winter Menu

Virgin Atlantic has launched its new Autumn/Winter menu across all routes with redesigned menus for every cabin and a new breakfast concept for Upper Class and Premium.

Upper Class

In Upper Class, the new menu includes dishes such as:

• Chicken two ways – oven baked breast and a cream herb chicken mini pie with broccoli, carrot purée, baby carrots and chicken jus
• Baked cod with smoky tomato ragù, crushed potatoes, grilled broccoli and cavolo nero crisps
• Vegetarian Ras el Hanout roasted aubergine with fregola, tomato sauce, baked feta and sumac yoghurt

The wine list has also had a seasonal refresh. You’ll now be offered a dessert wine and, on flights from South Africa, bottles from Richard Branson’s Mont Rochelle estate, including the 2025 Mont Rochelle Sauvignon Blanc and the 2023 Little Rock Rouge.

New wellness drinks, such as the Pentire Paloma and Revibed Raspberry & Açaí Superfood, are also being introduced, alongside snacks from brands like Kooky Mango, Nourish Vegan, and Art of Chocolate.

Premium

In Upper Class and Premium, a new breakfast concept is available. You’ll enjoy a cold continental entrée paired with a layered yoghurt, fruit and granola bowl.

One of the new main courses includes a cod fishcake with crushed minted peas, tenderstem broccoli and lemon thyme cream.

The Mile High Tea has also returned, this time with new patisserie items and sweet treats.

Economy

Virgin has added a new mid-flight margherita pizza, served in a nostalgic red “slice slice baby” box. I would be intrigued to see how this travels. Nothing worse than soggy pizza!

The menu includes favourites such as:

• Chicken tikka masala with pilau rice, masala spinach, and onion bhaji
• Tomato and mascarpone pasta with pesto and cheddar

Clubhouses

Each Clubhouse around the world will now have its own signature cocktail. The Maiden Voyager, a peach-and-vodka creation first introduced for Virgin Atlantic’s 40th anniversary, now takes pride of place on the drinks menu at the Heathrow Clubhouse.

New additions and returning treats at the LHR Clubhouse include:

• Wild mushroom soup
• Pan-seared sea bass with carrot purée and tamari broth
• The return of spotted dick with custard
• Sausage roll and ‘Branson‘ pickle at the Deli Bar
• Signature serves include the Clubhouse Burger, the Red Head cocktail, Mile High Tea, the Virgin Atlantic Bloody Mary, and Cherry Pie in the Sky ice cream (across global lounges).

These changes are all part of Virgin’s investment in premium dining and service across every cabin.

Radisson Blu Debuts in Florence

The first Radisson hotel in Florence has just opened. The Radisson Blu is located within minutes of the historic centre on Via Giovanni Agnelli, overlooking the Tuscan hills.

From huge conference facilities to a complete wellness centre, the hotel caters to business and leisure travellers. There are 304 rooms and suites with natural woods, light stone, and soft neutral tones in a modern design that nods to Florence’s Renaissance heritage. There are ample room types to choose from, ranging from Standard to Family rooms and Suites (which have terraces and separate living areas).

There’s a good selection of restaurants and bars to choose from, including:

• Lobby Lounge Bar: A fireplace setting – ideal for aperitivo hour

• La Veranda Pool Restaurant & Bar: Open during the warmer months, serving cocktails and light dishes by the pool
• La Primavera: International all-day dining
• Bertarelli: Tuscan cuisine using local ingredients

Facilities include a full-service spa and wellness centre, outdoor pool, tennis courts and a fitness hub. For families, there’s a kids’ pool, playground and dedicated play areas. Business facilities include meeting and event spaces (15 rooms) and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 450 guests.

Nightly rates start at £96 per night. Suite prices are usually just over double that of a standard room.

Gilles Toffoletto, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Florence, commented:

“The opening of our hotel marks an exciting new chapter for Florence, welcoming travellers from every walk of life. Whether visiting for business, bleisure, or family adventures, guests can look forward to a refined experience that combines contemporary comfort, authentic hospitality, and the timeless sophistication Radisson Blu is known for.”