Alitalia Cargo announced Wednesday a new trans-Atlantic route from Milan to Miami that will also serve at least seven South American countries through an agreement with Centurion Air Cargo.

Alitalia Cargo will start weekly services to Miami on May 18, boosting to 10 its weekly flights to the United States, the company said in a statement.

The agreement with Centurion will allow Alitalia customers to reach key South American markets, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Peru, the company said.

"This agreement will allow us to reinforce our business, and project ourselves toward Central and South America," Alitalia Cargo Chief Executive Pierandrea Galli said in a statement. "Miami will become an important hub for handling goods, granting Italian entrepreneurs the ability to develop trade with key markets."

Alitalia Cargo operates a fleet of 5 MD11 Special Freighters. In addition to its North American routes, it serves India, China and Africa, and through agreements with Nippon Cargo and Korean Air, reaches Japan and South Korea.