Three European Winter Breaks Are Back on Dubai’s Departure Board

Dubai-based low-cost carrier flydubai is restoring three European routes in time for the Christmas season. Flights to Riga, Latvia, restart on December 11, followed by Salzburg, Austria, and Vilnius, Lithuania, on December 12. Each route will run three times a week from Dubai International’s Terminal 3. The resumptions follow a run of other network additions from the airline, including Aleppo, Bangkok, Benghazi and Pokhara, and flydubai has also said it will restore Skopje, North Macedonia, from April 1, 2027.

The schedules are tailored to short breaks. Riga flights operate on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays as FZ1441 and FZ1442, while Salzburg (FZ1449/1450) and Vilnius (FZ1263/1264) run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Return Economy Lite fares start from around AED 2,442 out of Dubai, or about €503 from Riga, with Salzburg from about €530 and Vilnius from about €539 for travellers starting in Europe. Bookings are open through flydubai’s website, app and travel agents.

For travellers based in Europe, the more interesting angle may be onward connections. Because flydubai and Emirates codeshare, passengers from the Baltics and Salzburg can book single-ticket itineraries through Dubai to destinations such as Bangkok, Colombo and the Maldives, with bags checked through. For UAE residents, the routes bring back winter city breaks in Riga’s UNESCO-listed old town and Vilnius’s baroque centre, along with Salzburg’s Christmas markets and easy access to the Ski Amadé slopes.

The caveat is frequency. With only three departures a week on each route, a quick weekend away can turn into a longer stay if the return days do not line up, especially around Christmas and New Year when flights fill quickly. Check both directions before committing to hotels, compare the full fare after adding bags or seat selection to the Economy Lite base price, and confirm the baggage allowance if you are carrying ski equipment.

Sources: Aviation Week, TravelWise