Dubai-based flydubai celebrated its inaugural service to Naples (NAP) becoming the first national carrier for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to offer direct flights from Dubai.
With up to five flights a week, Naples becomes flydubai’s second destination in Italy after it launched flights to Sicily’s Catania last year.
Onboard the flight was a senior delegation led by Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai and Thierry Aucoc, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commerical Operations, Europe, Russian Federation and Latin America, together with representatives from the regional media.
On arrival in Naples, the delegation was met by Roberto Barbieri, CEO of Naples Airport and Margherita Chiaramonte, Business Aviation Development Director, Naples Airport.
Commenting on the occasion, Jeyhun Efendi, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations and E-commerce at flydubai said: “We are delighted to be flying to Naples, the second destination we have launched in Italy in a year.
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“It is another example of flydubai’s decade long commitment towards opening up underserved markets and giving those in Italy more opportunities to benefit from direct flights to Dubai and beyond on our network.”
Emirates will codeshare on this route and for bookings under the codeshare, Emirates passengers will receive complimentary meals and the Emirates checked baggage allowance on flights operated by flydubai in Business and Economy class.
Said Thierry Aucoc, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe, Russian Federation and Latin America: “Through our codeshare partnership, Emirates’ customers from across our global network, particularly from key inbound markets such as Australia, Japan and China, will now also be able to easily access Naples.
“Local travellers in the Naples region can connect seamlessly from their flydubai flight to Emirates flights at our Dubai hub to popular destinations such as Thailand, Australia, Egypt and China.”
UAE visitors to Italy were the highest spenders from the Middle East in 2017 with visitor numbers increasing by 21.97%.
Roberto Barbieri, the CEO of Naples Airport said: "With flydubai flights to Dubai we are providing a door to the UAE and to the East, along with opportunities to travel to destinations such as Australia and Thailand, which were previously not reachable until last week and are now just a one stop away.
“Incoming tourist flows from Asia and Australia will be easier and we expect the local tourism economy to benefit and grow.”
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