DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed on Wednesday a significant expansion of its European route network, aimed at boosting service frequencies to major Italian gateways to meet rising international travel demand. According to statements issued by Emirates News Agency, the carrier is strengthening its presence in Italy with increased flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby deepening direct transport links between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Effective July 31, 2026, flydubai will operate twice daily between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also increasing its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This new schedule expands flydubai’s overall operations 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, continuing through the end of August. Alongside the rise in flight frequencies, the airline shared details about operational adjustments required by scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Due to maintenance planned at Naples International Airport, flydubai 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 are expected to resume on December 1, 2026, with passengers holding existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Flydubai Boosts Flight Frequencies to Major Italian Cities
The additional routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the established codeshare partnership between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This cooperation enables travelers to benefit from integrated travel options, unified ticketing, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airline networks. Utilizing the combined network via Dubai’s central hub allows passengers connecting from Italian airports to access 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 within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily grown post-pandemic. These increased flight frequencies support rising bilateral trade, investment, and leisure travel between the UAE and Italy. The new double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo enhance seat capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial centers, while daily flights to Southern Italy cater to growing seasonal demand from tourists visiting historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s Chief Executive Officer, commented on the network expansion, emphasizing that Naples and Milan have become vital gateway hubs in the airline’s European network. He pointed out that the main goal remains providing reliable regional access for travelers while committing to long-term connectivity improvements in underserved markets. Al Ghaith highlighted that market indicators show flydubai is strengthening its Italian operations through strategic frequency increases to accommodate the rising passenger flow between the UAE and Italy, especially as winter travel volumes pick up.
Salerno Route Temporarily Supports Operations During Maintenance Period
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, underlined that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the Italian market’s strategic importance. Efendi explained that offering nonstop connections enables international passengers to leverage both flydubai’s and Emirates’ networks, facilitating seamless access to popular global destinations through Dubai. The airline’s commercial leadership assured that fleet allocations and operational teams are well-prepared to manage the increased daily flights, ensuring high operational reliability for both passenger and cargo services.
These operational enhancements reflect flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international route development strategies. As the airline continues acquiring modern narrow-body aircraft, plans are in motion to increase frequencies on other high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian flight schedule further solidifies Dubai’s role as a major aviation hub, enabling smooth passenger and freight connections between European origin points and destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.