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The first-ever nonstop flight from New York to Puglia, Italy, officially took off on June 3.
Neos Airlines, Italy’s second-largest airline, is now offering weekly nonstop flights from JFK Airport to Bari — the capital of Puglia — marking the first direct connection between the U.S. and the southern Italian region.
The seasonal flights operate every Tuesday through Oct. 15. Planes depart JFK at 4 p.m. and land in Bari’s Karol Wojtyla Airport at 8 a.m. the following morning. Return flights leave Bari at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at JFK at 1:50 p.m. All flights are on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners with premium and economy class seating.
The new route adds Bari to Neo’s existing North American service, which already includes Milan and Palermo out of JFK. With this addition, the airline now operates daily service between North America and Italy.
“The announcement of the Bari-New York direct flight is the crowning achievement of an extraordinary year for the airports of Puglia,” said Antonio Maria Vasile, president of Aeroporti di Puglia.
Michele Emiliano, president of the Puglia Region, said the route means more than just increased tourism and business opportunities.
“New York-Bari is much more than an air link,” he said. “It is an embrace between Puglia and the world, a bridge that unites traditions, affection, heritage and opportunity, especially as many Americans are proud of their families’ roots in Puglia.”
In 2024, over 10 million travelers passed through Puglia’s airports. Local officials say the U.S. is one of the most promising markets for continued growth, citing rising interest from high-spending American travelers drawn to the region’s history, food, and wine.
“Thanks to this new Puglia route, NEOS will have a daily flight from North America to Italy with four frequencies to Milan, two to Palermo and now one to Bari, significantly increasing leisure and business travel between the two countries,” ” said Carlo Stradiotti, CEO of Neos.
Neos began its North American operations in 2021 and is a subsidiary of Alpitour World, one of Italy’s largest travel and tourism groups. Flights can be booked at neosair.com or through travel agents.
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Top: Photo by Neos Air (credit: Facebook)
