«A Region cannot allow itself to be blackmailed by carriers».
This was stated by Regional President Alessandra Todde on the sidelines of a hearing before the Health Committee regarding Ryanair's position on the reduction of the airport tax.
"We asked Ryanair for guarantees, but they haven't received them," he clarified. "We have correspondence that proves it. The fact that they're now boasting about bases with 900 jobs is in their head, because they certainly haven't shared them with the Region. We need to be serious. The Region doesn't use Sardinian money to make promises, it uses it to secure projects, concrete actions, and mutual commitments. We'll leave the blackmail to others."
Meanwhile, regarding the municipal surcharge for passengers disembarking at airports, following Ryanair's statement and the Region's response, the opposition is lashing out at Campo Largo and the Regional Council. Today, the FdI, FI, Riformatori Sardi, Alleanza Sardegna, and Sardegna 20Venti announced their intention to submit two amendments to reduce the landing fee, already in the discussion of the €750 million budget amendment currently under consideration by the Regional Council. One for €14 million to experimentally eliminate the surcharge during the shoulder months, from October to April, and one for €35 million for the entire year.
"Ryanair's tone isn't entirely acceptable, and we don't want to defend the company, but the air travel market has completely changed. Ryanair is the main airline that does what it wants and does what it says, even if we don't like it. In other regions, it has boosted the tourism market by 30%," said FdI group leader Paolo Truzzu . "It hasn't received a response for two years and has already reduced flights in April and May by 7%. We're calling on the majority to respond immediately, perhaps through budget changes. The money the Region loses would go back into GDP: €400 million in taxes that go straight to Sardinian citizens. And we need to act quickly because an agreement with the government needs to be reached for an omnibus law or other measure, and that won't be immediate."
For FI's Gianni Chessa, "air connectivity can't be seen as a luxury, and abandoning Ryanair today is madness, because it's irreplaceable at this time." According to the former Tourism Councilor, "the economic damage, resulting from fewer visitors and lower taxes, is estimated at €1 billion. Instead of wasting €30 million on airport networks and then having them count for nothing, we should find the resources to cut the tax."
"We don't like the tone of blackmail either," says Umberto Ticca (Reformers). "It's not just an incentive for the low-cost carrier, but abolition for all airlines. Ryanair is qualified to make a proposal, and we believe it can be done. We're also starting with the winter season, with the prospect of doing it year-round. Otherwise, it could create a problem." Stefano Schirru of Alleanza Sardegna says: "Incentivizing the airline means creating more attractive conditions for development."
Stefano Tunis says that "the Todde administration is clearly a 'psychiatric case': it obtusely goes against Sardinia's interests, and it's difficult to find a solid argument. Councilor Cuccureddu has already made it clear that he wants a more elite type of tourism rather than the more popular kind, which, however, is capable of enlivening our cities, even during periods of stagnation."