DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai unveiled a significant enhancement of its European route network on Wednesday, boosting flight frequencies to major Italian hubs to meet the rising global demand for international travel. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is expanding its services to Italy with additional flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct transportation links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting from July 31, 2026, the airline will operate a double-daily service connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport, along with an increase in flights to Naples International Airport to a daily operation.
This expanded schedule 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, operating through the end of August. Besides adding more flights, the airline also detailed operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure improvements in Southern Italy. Because of planned maintenance at Naples International Airport, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Regular flights to Naples are expected to resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
flydubai Expands Flight Frequencies to Key Italian Cities
The increased routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the established codeshare partnership between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This collaboration allows travelers to enjoy integrated travel plans, single-ticket purchases, coordinated flight schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines. By utilizing the joint network centered at Dubai’s main hub, passengers connecting from Italian airports gain smooth access to popular 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 aligns with broader trends in the aviation industry across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily increased in the post-pandemic period. The rise in flight frequencies supports growing bilateral trade, investment, and tourism exchanges between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The additional double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo increase seat availability for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial hub, while the daily flights to Southern Italy cater to rising seasonal tourist demand exploring cultural landmarks along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, commented on the network growth, emphasizing that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways within the airline’s European routes. He pointed out that the primary goal is to maintain reliable regional access for travelers while committing to long-term improvements in connectivity for underserved markets. Al Ghaith further noted that market data show flydubai’s strategic frequency increases bolster its operations in Italy, catering to rising passenger flows between the United Arab Emirates and Italy as travel demand accelerates ahead of the winter season.
Salerno Route Acts as a Short-Term Alternative During Maintenance
Discussing operational plans, Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, underscored that enhancing direct flight options to Naples and Milan-Bergamo highlights Italy’s strategic importance for the airline. Efendi explained that providing non-stop services allows international passengers to leverage the combined networks of flydubai and Emirates to reach global destinations seamlessly through Dubai. The airline’s management assured that fleet resources and operational teams are prepared to support the increased flight activity, ensuring high standards of service reliability for both passenger and cargo transport.
These operational enhancements in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network development plan. As the airline continues to acquire modern narrow-body aircraft, its commercial team aims to further increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian flight schedule helps establish Dubai’s position as a global aviation hub, enabling efficient passenger and freight movement between European origin points and expanding destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.