DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai unveiled a significant increase in its European flight operations on Wednesday, aiming to meet rising international travel demand by adding more flights to major Italian hubs. According to reports from Emirates News Agency, flydubai is enhancing its presence in Italy by increasing frequencies to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will offer a double-daily service from Dubai International Airport to Milan-Bergamo Airport, while also expanding its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This increase broadens the airline’s overall reach within Italy, which already includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and twice-weekly seasonal summer services to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia operating until the end of August. Besides the additional flights, flydubai has outlined 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 Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport flights from November 1 to November 30, 2026. Normal services to Naples are set to resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
flydubai Expands Service Frequencies in Major Italian Cities
The increased routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This partnership provides passengers with integrated travel options, unified ticketing, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage services across both airlines. Leveraging the combined network through Dubai’s central hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports enjoy streamlined access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct routes to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This capacity expansion aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger numbers have steadily increased since the pandemic. The increased flight frequencies support growing bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism between the UAE and Italy. The additional double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo offer greater capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial hub, while daily flights to Southern Italy address rising seasonal demand among international tourists visiting cultural landmarks along the Amalfi Coast.
Commenting on the route expansion, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, emphasized that Naples and Milan are now vital gateways within the airline’s European network. He noted that the company’s main goal remains providing consistent regional connectivity and long-term commitment to underserved markets. Al Ghaith added that data shows flydubai is strengthening its Italian presence with strategic flight frequency increases designed to accommodate the rising passenger traffic between the UAE and Italy, especially as travel volumes escalate during the upcoming winter season.
Salerno Route as a Temporary Alternative During Maintenance Work
Further elaborating on operational plans, Jeyhun Efendi, Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai, highlighted that boosting direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the importance of the Italian market for the airline. Efendi pointed out that non-stop routes enable international travelers to access the extensive network of flydubai and Emirates seamlessly via Dubai. The airline’s commercial leadership confirmed that their fleet and operational teams are prepared to manage the increased daily flights, ensuring reliability in both passenger and cargo services.
These operational enhancements reflect flydubai’s ongoing growth strategy, which includes fleet expansion and the development of its international network. As the airline continues to receive new modern narrow-body aircraft, plans are underway to further increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. The expanded schedule in Italy further cements Dubai’s role as a major aviation hub, enabling smooth passenger and freight connections between Europe and expanding markets across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.