DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai announced a significant broadening of its European route network on Wednesday, aimed at accommodating rising international travel demands by boosting flight frequencies to major Italian cities. Confirmations from Emirates News Agency outlined that flydubai is strengthening its Italian operations with more flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby expanding direct links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will offer double daily flights connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport. Additionally, it has increased its service to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule, reinforcing its presence in Italy’s key urban centers.
This schedule expansion broadens flydubai’s overall operational footprint in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and twice-weekly seasonal summer flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, running through the end of August. The airline also announced operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Between November 1 and November 30, 2026, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily Dubai International Airport service to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport while maintenance is carried out at Naples International Airport. Normal flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Expansion of Commercial Flights Enhances Bilateral Relations and Tourism
The extended services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This collaboration allows passengers to benefit from integrated travel options, single-ticket purchases, coordinated flight schedules, and through-checked baggage across both networks. Operating from Dubai’s central hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports gain simplified access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct routes to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
The capacity increase aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily grown after the pandemic. The additional flights support growing bilateral trade, investment, and tourism exchanges between the UAE and Italy. The new double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo provide more seats for business travelers heading to Italy’s primary economic hub, while daily flights to Southern Italy accommodate rising seasonal tourist demand to historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, commented that Naples and Milan are now vital gateways within the airline’s European network. He emphasized that maintaining consistent regional access remains a priority, alongside the long-term goal of improving connectivity to underserved markets. Al Ghaith noted that recent market data shows that flydubai’s increased frequency in Italy responds to growing passenger flows between the UAE and Italy, especially as travel demand picks up heading into the winter season.
Enhancing Flight Frequencies to Boost Capacity to Milan and Naples
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, highlighted that the expansion of direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the Italian market’s strategic importance. He pointed out that nonstop flights enable international travelers to leverage the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates, offering seamless access to global destinations via Dubai. The airline’s commercial team has confirmed that fleet resources and operational support are ready to handle increased daily flight operations, ensuring reliable service for both passenger and cargo transportation.
These enhancements in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network development initiatives. As the airline continues to introduce modern narrow-body aircraft, plans are underway to further increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedule reinforces Dubai’s position as a major global aviation hub, facilitating efficient passenger and freight movement between Europe and destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.