DUBAI, UAE / RankWire.AI / – The UAE-based airline flydubai has expanded its flight offerings to Italy to accommodate the rising international travel demand. According to official statements from Emirates News Agency, flydubai is intensifying its operations within Italy by adding more flights to key commercial hubs. Starting July 31, 2026, the airline will operate double-daily flights between Dubai and Milan-Bergamo, while maintaining daily round-trip services to Naples, further strengthening its presence in the Italian market.
This adjustment broadens flydubai’s overall operational footprint in Italy, which currently includes three weekly flights to Catania Airport in Sicily and twice-weekly seasonal summer flights to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Sardinia, running through the end of August. The airline also announced operational changes due to scheduled infrastructure work in Southern Italy. Specifically, from November 1 to November 30, 2026, flydubai will temporarily reroute its daily service from Dubai International Airport to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport. Regular flights to Naples will resume on December 1, 2026, with existing bookings automatically transferred to the Salerno route during this period.
Codeshare Partnership Enhances Passenger Connectivity via Dubai Hub
The new routes to Milan-Bergamo and Naples continue to operate under the established codeshare agreement between flydubai and the international flag carrier Emirates. This cooperation offers travelers integrated itineraries, single-ticket options, synchronized flight schedules, and through-checked baggage services across both carriers. By utilizing the joint network through Dubai’s central hub, passengers connecting from Italian airports gain seamless access to long-haul destinations across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, including direct connections to Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar.
This capacity expansion aligns with wider aviation trends across the Middle East and Europe, where international passenger traffic has steadily increased following the pandemic. The rise in flight frequencies supports growing bilateral trade, investment, and leisure tourism between the United Arab Emirates and Italy. The additional double-daily flights to Milan-Bergamo cater to business travelers heading to Italy’s financial and industrial heartland, while daily flights to Southern Italy meet the seasonal surge in international tourists visiting historic sites along the Amalfi Coast.
Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai’s Chief Executive Officer, commented on the expansion, stating that Naples and Milan have become vital gateways within the airline’s European network. He emphasized that maintaining consistent regional access remains a priority while reinforcing long-term commitments to underserved markets. Al Ghaith also pointed out that market data shows flydubai’s increased operations in Italy with strategic flight frequency increases to handle the rising flow of passengers between the UAE and Italy, especially as travel volumes grow ahead of the winter season.
Regional Airports Serve as Direct Access Points for Travelers
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 for the airline. Efendi noted that nonstop connections enable international travelers to leverage the combined reach of flydubai and Emirates, making global destinations easily accessible through Dubai. The airline’s commercial teams have confirmed their readiness to support the increased flight schedule, with appropriate fleet and operational resources ensuring reliable service for both passenger and cargo operations.
These operational enhancements in Italy reflect flydubai’s ongoing fleet expansion and international network development plan. As the airline continues integrating modern narrow-body aircraft into its fleet, plans are underway to further boost frequencies on high-demand European routes. The extended Italian flight schedule cements Dubai’s role as a global aviation hub, facilitating smooth passenger and freight movement between European origin points and expanding destinations across the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and East Africa.