DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed a significant expansion of its European route network on Wednesday, aiming to meet increasing international travel demand by adding more flights to key Italian hubs. Confirmed by statements from Emirates News Agency, the carrier is strengthening its presence in Italy through additional services to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, enhancing direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate twice daily flights between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport. At the same time, service to Naples International Airport has been increased to a daily operation, reinforcing its commercial footprint in major Italian urban centers.
This expanded schedule broadens flydubai’s overall operational reach in Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and seasonal summer flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia twice a week through August. The airline also announced operational changes due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. During planned maintenance at Dubai International Airport, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Regular flights to Naples are set to resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Expansion of Flight Network Bolsters Bilateral Business and Tourism
The additional flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the existing codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership enables travelers to benefit from integrated travel plans, single-ticket options, coordinated schedules, and through-checked baggage handling across both networks. Connecting through Dubai, passengers traveling from Italian airports gain quick access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct links to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This capacity expansion aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation within the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have been steadily rising after the pandemic. Increased flight frequencies support growing bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism flows between the UAE and Italy. The introduction of double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo offers greater seat availability for business travelers accessing Italy’s key financial and industrial hub, while daily flights to Southern Italy cater to the rising seasonal demand from international tourists exploring cultural landmarks along the Amalfi Coast.
Commenting on the network enhancement, flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith emphasized that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways within the airline’s European route system. He noted that the company’s priority is to maintain reliable regional connectivity while making long-term commitments to underserved markets. Al Ghaith also highlighted that market data shows flydubai’s increased operations in Italy are driven by strategic frequency additions, responding to the rising passenger flows between the UAE and Italy as the winter travel season approaches.
Boost in Flight Frequencies Enhances Capacity to Milan and Naples
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, elaborated that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the Italian market’s strategic significance. He stated that nonstop services allow passengers to leverage both flydubai and Emirates for seamless access to major international destinations through Dubai. The airline’s commercial team confirmed that fleet deployment and operational teams are prepared to support the increased daily flight operations, ensuring high reliability for both passenger and cargo services.
These operational developments in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing growth strategy, including fleet expansion and international network development. As the airline continues acquiring modern narrow-body aircraft, plans are in place to increase frequencies on other high-demand European routes. The new Italian flight schedules further establish Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub, facilitating smooth movement of passengers and freight between Europe and regions across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.