DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday a significant enhancement of its European route network, with increased service frequency to key Italian gateways in response to rising international travel demand. As reported by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is reinforcing its operations in Italy through additional flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Beginning July 31, 2026, the airline will run a double-daily service connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also expanding its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This 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, operating through the end of August. Along with increased flight frequencies, the airline announced operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Between November 1 and November 30, 2026, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport during planned maintenance at Naples International Airport. Regular flights to Naples are set to resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers holding existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during the transition.
flydubai Expands Service to Key Italian Cities
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership offers passengers integrated travel options, unified ticketing, synchronized flight schedules, and through-checked baggage across both carriers. By leveraging this shared network through Dubai’s central aviation hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports benefit from 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 expansion aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger volumes are steadily increasing post-pandemic. The rise in flight frequencies supports growing bilateral trade, investments, and leisure tourism between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The addition of double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo enhances capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s primary financial and industrial hub, while daily flights to southern Italy cater to seasonal tourist demand visiting historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, commented on the network expansion, emphasizing that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways within the airline’s European portfolio. He stressed that maintaining consistent regional connectivity remains a priority, alongside a long-term commitment to opening underserved markets. Al Ghaith noted that market data confirm flydubai’s strategic efforts to increase frequencies in Italy to accommodate the rising passenger flows between the UAE and Italy, especially as travel activity accelerates during the upcoming winter season.
Salerno Route Acts as Temporary Hub During Maintenance Period
Discussing operational plans, Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, highlighted that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underpins the airline’s focus on the Italian market. Efendi explained that offering nonstop routes allows passengers worldwide to leverage the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates for seamless access to global destinations via Dubai. The airline’s operational teams and fleet resources are prepared to support the increased daily flight schedule, 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 strategy. As the airline continues acquiring modern narrow-body aircraft, its commercial plans aim for further frequency upgrades on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedule reinforces Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub, enabling smooth passenger and freight movements between Europe and expanding destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.