flydubai Doubles Milan Flights as Italy Network Expands to 26 Weekly Departures
flydubai is significantly expanding its Italian network, increasing service from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to both Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) and Naples International Airport (NAP).
Flights between Dubai Airport (DXB) and Naples Airport (NAP) increased to daily service on July 27, 2026. Beginning July 31, flydubai will operate twice daily between Dubai and Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), giving the route 14 weekly departures in each direction.
The expansion will take flydubai’s Italian schedule to as many as 26 weekly flights from Dubai Airport (DXB) during August. The network includes twice-daily service to Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), daily flights to Naples Airport (NAP), three weekly flights to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA), and twice-weekly seasonal service to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB).
Read our stories in your inbox
Two aviation newsletters. Zero fluff.
The carrier said the additional frequencies respond to growing demand while strengthening tourism, business, and trade links between Italy and the United Arab Emirates. The expanded schedule also provides more connecting opportunities through flydubai’s home hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Milan Bergamo Becomes flydubai’s Largest Italian Route
The increase to twice-daily service makes Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) flydubai’s highest-frequency destination in Italy.
Offering two flights each day is more valuable than simply adding capacity. Multiple departure times allow flydubai to connect Italian passengers with different arrival and departure banks at Dubai Airport (DXB), reducing layovers and making a greater range of onward itineraries practical.
Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), also known as Orio al Serio International Airport, primarily serves the eastern side of the Milan metropolitan region and the wider Lombardy market. It has traditionally been associated with European low-cost airlines, but flydubai’s operation gives the airport a substantial nonstop link to the Middle East and connections beyond Dubai.
The route supports passengers traveling directly between northern Italy and the UAE, but connecting traffic is also likely to play an important role. Through the Emirates and flydubai codeshare partnership, travelers can book coordinated itineraries with through-checked baggage to destinations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Indian Ocean region.
flydubai specifically identified Kenya, Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Zanzibar as important connecting markets for passengers beginning their journeys in Italy.
Naples Service Is Now Daily
flydubai’s service between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Naples International Airport (NAP) increased to seven weekly flights on July 27.
Daily service gives passengers a consistent schedule throughout the week and makes the route more attractive to business travelers, tour operators, and passengers connecting through Dubai. It also removes the need for travelers to plan around gaps between operating days.
Naples Airport (NAP) serves one of Italy’s most important leisure regions, providing access to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, Capri, and the northern side of the Amalfi Coast. The route can therefore draw from both outbound Italian traffic and passengers traveling from the Middle East and Asia to southern Italy.
During the winter season, flydubai will normally offer 24 weekly departures from Italy: 14 from Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY), seven from Naples Airport (NAP), and three from Catania Airport (CTA). Seasonal Olbia Airport (OLB) flights are scheduled to end after August.
Naples Flights Will Move to Salerno for One Month
The daily Naples service will temporarily relocate in November because Naples International Airport (NAP) is closing for major runway work.
Between November 1 and November 30, 2026, flydubai will operate its daily flight from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport (QSR). Service will return to Naples Airport (NAP) on December 1.
The operator of Naples Airport has confirmed that the airport will be closed during November for an extensive, scheduled runway rehabilitation project. The work is intended to renew the runway infrastructure while maintaining required aviation safety standards.
Rather than canceling its southern Italy service for the entire month, flydubai has chosen to move the operation to Salerno Airport (QSR). Passengers already holding Naples reservations will be rebooked automatically onto the corresponding Salerno flights.
The temporary schedule will be:
FZ1681: Dubai International Airport (DXB) 7:25 a.m. – Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport (QSR) 11:10 a.m.
FZ1682: Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport (QSR) 12:10 p.m. – Dubai International Airport (DXB) 8:40 p.m.
All times are local. The outbound flight has a scheduled block time of six hours and 45 minutes, while the eastbound return is scheduled for five hours and 30 minutes because Dubai is three hours ahead of Italy during November.
Flights will operate from Terminal 3 at Dubai Airport (DXB), which flydubai uses for many services sold in cooperation with Emirates.
Salerno Is More Than a Technical Substitute
Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport (QSR) resumed scheduled commercial passenger operations in July 2024 following extensive infrastructure improvements.
The airport is located southeast of Salerno and provides comparatively convenient access to the southern portion of the Amalfi Coast and the Cilento region. Its passenger terminal normally operates between 5 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., which comfortably accommodates flydubai’s planned midday arrival and departure.
For travelers whose final destination is Naples or an area north of the city, the airport change will require additional ground transportation. Passengers should therefore review transfer arrangements carefully rather than assuming Salerno Airport (QSR) is located immediately beside Naples Airport (NAP).
For visitors heading toward Salerno, Paestum, or the eastern and southern parts of the Amalfi Coast, however, the temporary airport could prove more convenient than Naples.
The month-long operation will also provide Salerno Airport (QSR) with an unusually prominent long-distance route. Most of its scheduled services are shorter European flights, while flydubai will connect it nonstop with a major intercontinental hub.
Boeing 737s Will Operate the Italian Network
flydubai will operate its Italian routes with aircraft from its all-Boeing 737 fleet.
As of July 2026, the carrier operates 97 aircraft consisting of 68 Boeing 737-8s, commonly known as the 737 MAX 8, 26 Boeing 737-800s, and three Boeing 737-9s. The airline has not guaranteed a specific variant for every Italy departure, and equipment can change according to operational requirements.
The Boeing 737-8 is particularly well suited to longer routes from Dubai Airport (DXB) to Italy. Boeing publishes a maximum range of approximately 3,500 nautical miles for the type, with typical two-class seating for 160 to 180 passengers. The aircraft’s range allows flydubai to serve European destinations nonstop without using a widebody jet. Boeing’s 737 MAX specifications also list a maximum certified capacity of 210 passengers, although flydubai uses lower-density, two-class layouts.
flydubai’s onboard product varies by aircraft. Its Boeing 737 MAX business-class cabins may feature either reclining seats or fully flat beds, with the lie-flat version extending to 78 inches when converted into a bed. Passengers should check the seat map for their specific flight rather than assuming every departure has the same configuration.
The airline has also been retrofitting its older Boeing 737-800s with updated economy seating, inflight entertainment, and lie-flat business-class seats. By 2026, 24 of the aircraft had undergone full cabin refurbishment.
Italy Expansion Comes During Wider Network Growth
The increased Italian frequencies form part of a broader period of expansion for flydubai.
The carrier recently began service to Aleppo International Airport (ALP) in Syria, Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Thailand, and Benghazi Benina International Airport (BEN) in Libya. It plans to launch flights to Pokhara International Airport (PKR) in Nepal on September 23, 2026.
flydubai now serves more than 120 destinations across 58 countries. Its strategy combines high-frequency service to large markets with routes to cities that have limited or no other nonstop connection to Dubai Airport (DXB).
The airline’s partnership with Emirates adds another dimension to that strategy. Italy passengers can purchase a single itinerary involving both carriers, receive coordinated connections, and have checked baggage transferred to the final destination where the itinerary permits.
Bottom Line
flydubai has increased service between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Naples International Airport (NAP) to daily flights and will double its Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) operation to twice daily from July 31, 2026.
With three weekly Catania Airport (CTA) flights and twice-weekly seasonal service to Olbia Airport (OLB), flydubai will operate as many as 26 weekly departures from Italy during August. Its winter schedule will contain 24 weekly flights after the seasonal Olbia service ends.
The most unusual change will occur during November, when Naples Airport (NAP) closes for a month-long runway rehabilitation project. flydubai will preserve its daily southern Italy service by moving flights to Salerno Costa d’Amalfi and Cilento Airport (QSR), rather than canceling the route.
The combination of higher Milan and Naples frequencies, continued expansion elsewhere in Italy, and access to the wider Emirates partnership gives flydubai a considerably stronger position in the Italy–UAE market.
Keep reading FlyMag
Get the Daily Brief in the morning or the Route Watch weekly recap on Fridays. Or both.
