Dubai-based airline flydubai celebrated its inaugural service to Naples (NAP) recently 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, Commercial 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. 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. We look forward to the increased opportunities for trade and tourism that this new route will bring.”
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.
“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, while 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,” said Thierry Aucoc, Emirates Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe, Russian Federation and Latin America.
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. All flydubai flights are codeshared with Emirates and from Dubai’s aviation hub it will be possible to continue onwards to numerous destinations around the world. Along with the recent opening of connections with North America the Campania region is connected to the East, facilitating both trade and travel to exotic places. Incoming tourist flows from Asia and Australia will be easier and we expect the local tourism economy to benefit and grow “.
