DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed a significant increase in its European route offerings on Wednesday, aiming to meet rising international travel demand by boosting service frequencies to major Italian gateways. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai enhances its presence in Italy with more flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct flight links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Beginning July 31, 2026, the airline will operate a twice-daily route connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also increasing its services to Naples International Airport to a daily operation.
This expanded schedule broadens flydubai’s overall operational footprint in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and seasonal summer services twice a week to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, running through August end. In addition to boosting flight frequencies, operational adjustments are planned due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. During maintenance at Naples International Airport, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily services from Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Normal flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers who have existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route for the duration of the change.
flydubai Enhances Connectivity to Italian Cities
The increased services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples are still operated under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership allows travelers to access integrated travel plans, single-ticket options, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines’ networks. Connecting from Italian airports via Dubai, passengers benefit from a streamlined experience that grants access to long-haul destinations throughout Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct routes to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This capacity boost aligns with broader trends in the aviation sector across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers continue to grow post-pandemic. The increased frequency supports bilateral trade, investment, and tourism exchanges between the UAE and Italy. The double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo increase seat capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s financial hub, while daily flights to southern Italy cater to seasonal tourism, especially visitors exploring the historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
In commenting on the expansion, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, noted that both Naples and Milan have become vital gateways in the airline’s European network. He emphasized that the focus remains on maintaining reliable regional access while committing to long-term connectivity improvements for underserved markets. Al Ghaith pointed out that data indicates that these additional frequencies will support the rising passenger flow between the United Arab Emirates and Italy, especially as travel activity accelerates into the winter season.
Salerno Route as a Temporary Alternative During Maintenance Work
Regarding operational plans, Jeyhun Efendi, the Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, highlighted the strategic importance of Italy’s market. The airline’s focus on non-stop flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo is aimed at providing seamless international connectivity through Dubai, leveraging the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates. Efendi also confirmed that the airline’s fleet and operational teams are well prepared to handle the increased daily flight volume, ensuring consistent performance across both passenger and cargo services.
The enhanced Italian routes reflect flydubai’s broader fleet expansion and international network development strategies. As the airline continues to acquire modern narrow-body aircraft, further frequency increases on high-demand European routes are under consideration. These schedule enhancements reinforce Dubai’s role as a major international aviation hub, enabling efficient transfer of passengers and freight between European origins and a growing number of destinations in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.