Dolce vita now easier from Dubai
24 European destinations now being served by flydubai’s network
For those looking for a splash of summer dolce vita, an opportunity to take in the Amalfi Coast became that bit easier this week as low-cost carrier flydubai officially inaugurated its direct route to the historic Italian city of Naples — becoming the first UAE carrier to do so.
Servicing the Campania region’s capital with, at present, five flights per week, the 8:10am takeoff marked flydubai’s latest European network point, which now total over 24 — also, a second Italian station after last year’s successful Catania, Sicily, route — in what has been an impressive decade-long expansion since the airline’s June 2009 inception.
Astute targeting of key growth areas out of Dubai and strengthening direct airlinks with the UAE has lead to the carrying of over 70 million satisfied passengers in the same period.
“It’s a great day for flydubai to start, finally, flights into the south of Italy,” flydubai senior vice-president for commercial and e-commerce Jeyhun Efendi said at a Naples function marking the occasion. “This part of Italy was neglected for a long time by direct connections from Dubai, so we are here and hope to add more flights to this part of Italy and develop this more.”
A result of the flydubai-Emirates
partnership, the Naples flight operates from Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3. For bookings made under the codeshare, Emirates passengers are entitled to benefits such as the relevant checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in both business and economy classes.
“Flydubai is working hard with Emirates in all parts,” Efendi said about the codeshare. “We hope to cater to people in Italy to connect via Dubai to places such as Australia and all over through our network and, as the south of Italy is very popular in our part of the world [Middle East] and there has always been very limited access to this area, with the Naples flight this has become much easier.”
Currently operating a dedicated Boeing 737 Next Generation, the aircraft provides upmost comfort and typical service the UAE has come to expect from its carriers.
Efendi added: “Our first flight was actually on May 31 and it was packed with Italians who live in Dubai. They are very happy they can finally get home very fast.”
“I have appreciation to our friends from Emirates and at Napoli airport who always pushed us hard to get this flight rolling.”