DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – On Wednesday, Dubai-based airline flydubai revealed plans to expand its routes within Europe by boosting the number of flights to major Italian airports, aiming to meet the rising international travel demand. As reported by Emirates News Agency, the airline is enhancing its operations in Italy with more flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples, thereby strengthening direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Beginning July 31, 2026, flydubai will run a double daily service connecting Dubai International Airport with Milan-Bergamo Airport, and will also increase its flights to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule.
This expansion broadens flydubai’s operational presence 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 until the end of August. Alongside the increased flight frequencies, the airline has announced operational adjustments due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. During maintenance at Dubai International Airport, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport between November 1 and November 30, 2026. Regular flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during the transition period.
Flydubai Expands Flight Frequencies to Key Italian Destinations
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the existing codeshare agreement between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This cooperation enables passengers to benefit from integrated itineraries, unified ticketing options, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines. Leveraging Dubai’s central hub, travelers connecting from Italian airports can access long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct flights to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This strategic capacity growth aligns with broader trends in the Middle East and European markets, where international passenger numbers have steadily increased after the pandemic. The additional flights are supporting growing bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism between the UAE and Italy. The twice-daily service to Milan-Bergamo increases seat capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s main financial and industrial hub, while the daily flights to Southern Italy cater to seasonal tourist demand visiting cultural landmarks along the Amalfi Coast.
Commenting on this expansion, flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith emphasized that Naples and Milan are now vital gateway cities within the airline’s European network. He stressed that maintaining reliable regional access remains a priority, alongside a long-term commitment to reaching underserved markets. Al Ghaith added that market data confirms flydubai’s efforts to strengthen Italy operations with strategic increases in flight frequency, accommodating the rising passenger flow between Italy and the UAE, especially as travel activity accelerates during the upcoming winter season.
Salerno Route Temporarily Serves as Alternative During Maintenance
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, highlighted that expanding direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the importance of the Italian market. Efendi explained that non-stop flights allow international travelers to leverage the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates, providing seamless access to global destinations through Dubai. The airline’s commercial team confirmed that fleet and operational resources are ready to manage the increased daily flight operations, ensuring smooth service for both passenger and cargo transport.
These operational enhancements reflect flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and efforts to grow its international network. As the airline continues to receive modern narrow-body aircraft, plans for further frequency increases on high-demand European routes are underway. The expanded Italian schedule consolidates Dubai’s role as a key aviation hub, enabling smooth passenger and freight movement between Europe and expanding markets across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.