DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday that it is significantly growing its presence in Europe by increasing the number of flights to major Italian hubs to meet rising international travel demand. According to reports issued by Emirates News Agency, flydubai is bolstering its Italian services with more frequent flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby strengthening direct air links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Beginning July 31, 2026, the airline will run a twice-daily service connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport, alongside expanding its operations to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This enhancement broadens the airline’s overall operational footprint 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 through the end of August. Additionally, the airline announced adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. From November 1 to November 30, 2026, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport because of maintenance at Naples International Airport. The regular flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers already booked automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
flydubai Expands Flight Frequencies to Prominent Italian Cities
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples are operated under the existing codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership provides travelers with integrated itineraries, single-ticket options, coordinated flight schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines. By leveraging the combined networks through Dubai’s central hub, passengers connecting from Italian airports gain easier access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct flights to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This capacity increase aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger volumes are steadily rebounding post-pandemic. The additional flight frequencies support growing bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism exchanges between the UAE and Italy. The double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo cater to business travelers heading to Italy’s main financial and industrial hub, while the daily flights to Southern Italy meet the rising seasonal demand from tourists visiting the 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 in the airline’s European network. He underscored that maintaining reliable regional access remains a priority, along with a long-term commitment to opening underserved markets. Al Ghaith noted that market indicators confirm flydubai’s efforts to strengthen its Italian operations through strategic increases in flight frequency, especially as passenger numbers grow during the upcoming winter travel season.
Salerno Route Acts as a Temporary Gateway During Maintenance Work
In discussing operational details, Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, highlighted that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo illustrates the Italian market’s strategic importance. Efendi explained that non-stop flights enable passengers to make full use of the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates to access major destinations worldwide through Dubai. The airline’s commercial management confirmed that their fleet and operational teams are ready to handle the increased daily flight volume, ensuring high reliability for both passenger and cargo services.
These enhancements in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network growth strategy. As the airline continues acquiring modern narrow-body aircraft, its commercial planners are targeting additional frequency increases on other high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedule reinforces Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub, facilitating smooth passenger and freight flows between European origins and expanded destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.