DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – Dubai-based airline flydubai announced a significant boost to its European route map on Wednesday. The airline is increasing flight frequencies to major Italian destinations to accommodate rising international travel. Official statements from Emirates News Agency confirmed that flydubai is expanding its operations in Italy by adding more flights to Milan-Bergamo and Naples. This move enhances direct connections between the United Arab Emirates and Southern Europe. Starting July 31, 2026, flydubai will operate double-daily services between Dubai International Airport and Milan-Bergamo Airport. At the same time, the airline has raised its services to Naples International Airport to a daily schedule, strengthening its presence in Italy’s key urban centers.
This schedule expansion broadens flydubai’s reach within Italy. It includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and twice-weekly seasonal summer flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, which run through the end of August. The airline also outlined operational changes caused by scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Due to planned maintenance 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 will resume on December 1, 2026. Existing bookings will be automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Boosting Business and Tourism with Expanded Flight Options
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples operate under the existing codeshare partnership between flydubai and Emirates, the international flag carrier. This cooperation allows travelers to access integrated itineraries, single-ticket options, synchronized schedules, and through-checked baggage across both airlines. Passengers connecting via Dubai benefit from a seamless network that links them to major long-haul destinations in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. These include direct flights to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
The capacity expansion aligns with broader trends in commercial aviation across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger volumes are steadily rising after the pandemic. The increase in flight frequencies supports growing bilateral trade, investment, and tourism between the UAE and Italy. The added double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo increase seat capacity for business travelers heading to Italy’s key financial and industrial hub. Daily flights to Southern Italy cater to the rising seasonal demand from international tourists visiting historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Commenting on the expansion, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, stated that Naples and Milan are now vital gateways within the airline’s European network. He emphasized the airline’s focus on providing consistent regional access for travelers. Al Ghaith also noted that the company remains committed to improving connectivity to underserved markets. He added that market data shows flydubai is strengthening its operations in Italy with strategic frequency increases. These are designed to accommodate the growing passenger flows between the UAE and Italy, especially heading into the winter travel season.
More Flights Boost Capacity to Milan and Naples
Jeyhun Efendi, flydubai’s Divisional Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations and E-commerce, highlighted that increasing direct flights to Naples and Milan-Bergamo underscores the importance of the Italian market. Efendi explained that non-stop flights enable passengers to utilize the combined networks of flydubai and Emirates for seamless access to popular international destinations via Dubai. The airline’s commercial team has confirmed that fleet planning and operations are ready to handle the increased daily flights. This ensures reliable service for both passengers and cargo.
These operational upgrades in Italy are part of flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and network development strategy. As the airline receives new modern narrow-body aircraft, it plans to further increase frequencies on high-demand European routes. The expanded Italian schedule solidifies Dubai’s role as a global transit hub. It facilitates smooth passenger and freight movement between Europe and regions across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.