DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai announced a significant boost to its European route network on Wednesday, with increased flight frequencies to major Italian destinations to meet growing international travel demand. According to Emirates News Agency, flydubai is enhancing its Italian operations by adding more flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate a double-daily service linking Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also increasing flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This expansion broadens the airline’s overall presence 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. In addition to more frequent flights, flydubai announced operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. As part of planned maintenance at Naples International Airport, the airline 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 will restart on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Enhanced Flight Services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples
The new services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue under the existing 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. Connecting via Dubai, travelers from Italian airports gain streamlined access to long-haul destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct routes to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
The capacity increase aligns with broader trends in the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily grown post-pandemic. The additional flights support bilateral trade, investment, and tourism between the UAE and Italy. The double daily services to Milan-Bergamo boost capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s financial hubs, while daily flights to Southern Italy cater to rising seasonal tourist demand along the scenic Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s CEO, commented that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways in the airline’s European network. He emphasized that maintaining consistent regional access remains a priority, alongside a long-term goal of connecting underserved markets. Al Ghaith also highlighted that market data shows flydubai is strengthening its Italian presence with strategic flight increases to accommodate rising passenger flows from the UAE, especially as winter travel volumes grow.
Salerno Route as a Temporary Alternative During Maintenance
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, explained that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the Italian market’s strategic significance. Efendi pointed out that direct, non-stop services enable passengers to leverage the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates for seamless global access through Dubai. The airline is ready to handle increased flight operations, with fleet and operations teams prepared to ensure reliability for both passenger and cargo services.
These operational upgrades support flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international growth strategy. As the airline continues to add modern narrow-body aircraft, plans include further frequency increases on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedule reinforces Dubai’s role as a major aviation hub, facilitating efficient movement of passengers and freight across Europe, the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.