DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday a significant increase in its European route offerings, aiming to meet rising international travel demand by adding more flights to major Italian airports. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is strengthening its operations in Italy through increased flight frequencies to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby deepening the direct transport links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate twice daily between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, and it will also expand its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily service.
This expanded timetable broadens the airline’s overall presence in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and seasonal summer flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, operating until the end of August. In addition to increasing flight frequencies, flydubai announced operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. During maintenance at Naples International Airport, the airline will temporarily reroute its daily Dubai International Airport flights to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Flights to Naples are scheduled to resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers holding existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Flydubai Amplifies Service Frequencies to Key Italian Cities
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate within the framework of the existing codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership offers passengers integrated travel options, single-ticket purchases, synchronized flight schedules, and through-checked baggage handling across both airlines’ networks. By leveraging the joint network through Dubai’s central hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports enjoy 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 increase aligns with broader aviation industry trends in the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily grown following the pandemic. The additional flight frequencies support the rising bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The double daily flights to Milan-Bergamo offer increased seats for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial hub, while daily flights to Southern Italy cater to seasonal tourism growth around historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Commenting on the route expansion, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, noted that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways within the airline’s European network. He emphasized that maintaining consistent regional access remains a priority, alongside a long-term dedication to improving connectivity to underserved markets. Al Ghaith also highlighted that market data shows flydubai’s strategy of increasing frequencies in Italy is driven by the need to accommodate the rising number of passengers between the UAE and Italy, especially as winter travel demand increases.
Salerno Route Acts as a Temporary Hub During Maintenance Period
Further elaborating on operational plans, Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, explained that the focus on boosting direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the strategic importance of Italy. Efendi pointed out that nonstop connections allow international travelers to make use of the combined networks of flydubai and Emirates for seamless access to global destinations through Dubai. The airline’s commercial teams confirmed that fleet resources and operational staff are prepared to handle the increased daily flights, ensuring reliable service for both passengers and cargo.
The enhancements in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network development plan. As the airline continues to receive modern narrow-body aircraft, it aims to further increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. These additions reinforce Dubai’s role as a major aviation hub, enabling efficient passenger and freight movements between Europe and expanding markets across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.