This is indeed interesting news.... UA operated the triangle route IAD/FCO/MXP up until about 96 and then they eliminated FCO. They never had 5th freedom rights so they couldn't pick up FCO passengers and deliver them to MXP.

They eliminated IAD/MXP as part of the fallout of 9/11 (along with MIA/CCS and MIA/SCL--I think).

UA operated IAD/MAD just about the time that US picked up both PHL/MAD and PHL/FCO--a move that I suspect was orchestrated by the now departed Stephen Wolfe (first from UA then later from US). The timing is my only evidence and I love a consipracy story--but whatever.