DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai announced a significant boost to its flight operations across Europe on Wednesday, aiming to meet the rising international travel demand by adding more flights to key Italian destinations. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is expanding its Italian route network with increased frequencies to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. From July 31, 2026, the airline will operate twice daily between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport and will also raise its service to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This schedule expansion broadens flydubai’s presence in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and seasonal summer services to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia twice a week until the end of August. The airline also announced adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Specifically, during maintenance at Dubai International Airport, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily flights from Dubai to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport between November 1 and November 30, 2026. The airline plans to resume regular flights to Naples on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Carrier Elevates Flight Frequencies to Prominent Italian Cities
The enhanced routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples operate under the existing codeshare agreement between flydubai and international flag carrier Emirates. This partnership provides passengers with integrated travel options, unified ticketing, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines. By leveraging the combined network through Dubai’s hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports gain streamlined access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct flights to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
The capacity expansion reflects broader trends in commercial aviation within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily increased after the pandemic. Increased flight frequencies support growing bilateral trade, investment, and tourism between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The addition of twice-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo offers more seats for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial hub, while daily flights to Southern Italy cater to rising seasonal tourist demand for cultural sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, commented on the network growth, emphasizing that Naples and Milan have become key gateways within the airline’s European network. He pointed out that maintaining regional connectivity remains a priority, alongside long-term commitments to serve underserved markets. Al Ghaith highlighted that data shows flydubai is bolstering its presence in Italy through strategic frequency increases to support the rising flow of passengers between the UAE and Italy, especially as winter travel volumes accelerate.
Salerno Route Acts as Temporary Access Point During Maintenance Period
Discussing operational strategies, Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, stressed that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the Italian market’s strategic significance. Efendi explained that nonstop flights enable international travelers to utilize both flydubai and Emirates’ combined network to reach popular destinations seamlessly through Dubai. The airline’s management confirmed that fleet resources and operational teams are prepared to handle the increased daily flights, ensuring high reliability for both passenger and cargo services.
These enhancements in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network development plan. As the airline acquires more modern narrow-body aircraft, commercial planners aim to increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedules position Dubai as a global aviation hub, facilitating smooth passenger and freight movements from Europe to the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.