Asiana Airlines has launched a new service to Rome in a bid to expand its footprint in Europe, the South Korean carrier said Tuesday.

"The new Incheon-Rome service will strengthen its European network by providing a wider variety of flight schedules, destinations and itineraries, which in turn will raise Asiana’s competitiveness,” Asiana CEO Kim Soo-cheon said.

Asiana Airlines CEO Kim Soo-cheon (sixth from left) poses with Tiziana Di Molfetta (seventh from left), councilor at the Italian Embassy in Korea, and Asiana‘s cabin attendants during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the airline‘s launch of an Incheon-Rome route at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport, Tuesday. (Asiana Airlines)

Starting from Tuesday, the airline will offer nonstop service three times a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, using a B777-200 aircraft with 300 seats.

The move will intensify competition for the major hub in Southern Europe as Italian carrier Alitalia resumed its Incheon-Rome direct route on June 4 after an 18-year hiatus.

The country’s largest carrier, Korea Air, had been solely operating the route before the two other players began services.

Rome is Asiana’s fifth destination in Europe, following Frankfurt, London, Paris and Istanbul.

By Park Han-na (hnaprk@heraldcorp.com)