Uncertainty about the future, a storm in the present. This is the bottleneck into which the island's air travel continuity appears to be stuck. From the regional transport department, however, consultant Giovanni Dore reassures on the purely technical aspects ("The regulations are clear"), while the operational front is a Via Crucis, as described by passengers, between impossible locations and a lack of flights. Meanwhile, Volotea, one of the airlines that participated in the 2026-2029 tender, confirms its interest in Sardinia.

Dore explains that "the Region," as soon as Aeroitalia gives notice , "will promptly proceed with the drafting and publication of the new tender." The consultant focuses on two aspects in particular. The first is that in the event of a second tender, "the costs of jet fuel will be updated to today's value," an issue on which Aeroitalia based its farewell to Continuity, accusing the Region of providing compensation that is too low. Dore explains: "The famous 17% parameter is only indicative for the purposes of possible increases in the preferential rate, frozen for the first two years, but does not represent the amount the Region will actually reimburse carriers for operating the service." Dore then recalls the 2022 epilogue, "when ITA and Volotea, after having accepted the Cagliari-Fiumicino route without compensation for a year, then withdrew early, but still gave six months' notice, again due to excessive jet fuel costs, which were later found to be non-existent."

While we wait to see Aeroitalia's final move, Volotea remains one of the Region's key stakeholders . "Sardinia," they stated in Barcelona, "has always been a strategically important territory for Volotea, which has built a strong and lasting relationship with the island over the years. This concrete commitment, begun in 2012 and strengthened with the opening of the Olbia base in 2021, translates into a range of connections designed to meet the mobility needs of Sardinian citizens year-round." Therefore, the move to Air Continuity, already successfully guaranteed by the Spanish carrier years ago, is crucial: the service "is essential to ensuring efficient connections between Sardinia and the rest of Italy. Volotea is closely monitoring developments and will evaluate the new tender as soon as it is published. In light of rising fuel costs, the airline hopes that adequate compensation will be provided to ensure the sustainability of the service, benefiting residents and ensuring the continuity of connections."

The latest blast on the service disruptions came from Fabio Albieri, mayor of Calangianus and president of the Sardinia Area Authority (the regulator of the regional water service), part of the Sardegna 20venti group. "Tomorrow morning (today, ed.) I have to be in Rome for institutional commitments. Yet, to be able to leave, I'm forced to board a ship this evening (yesterday)," he wrote on Facebook.

Insights by Alessandra Carta in the newspaper on newsstands and on the Unione Digital app

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