Airplanes, there is the new call for continuity: "Guaranteed connections even after February"

Six calls, for as many air connections in territorial continuity between the airports of Cagliari, Alghero and Olbia and those of Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino.

Today the publication in the official EU gazette, by December 27 the submission of offers by the carriers concerned. While the period of coverage of guaranteed flights and reduced rates for residents runs from 17 February 2023 to 26 October 2024.

The Region thus thwarts the concerns related to the choices of the two companies that are currently guaranteeing the service, without compensation: Volotea and Ita , which should have guaranteed (without charges) the connections until next May, in recent weeks they had announced the stop to February. Tickets were no longer on sale after half of that month.

“Once again the facts belie catastrophic predictions and exploitation”, says President Christian Solinas, who leads the Transport Department on an interim basis.

The governor adds that “the request for the publication of the tenders had already been sent to the ministry from last September 5 for forwarding to the European commission on September 14th. The publication took place today ”.

Today also the upload on the SardegnaCat platform for the completion of the computerized tender procedures. “We had been ready for over a month”, specifies the president, “the tenders have the same contents as those foreseen for territorial continuity currently in force, based on the same ministerial decree, the 466 of November 2021.

Moreover, the calculation of the auction base is decreasing because it has taken into account the decline in the air market and therefore the higher revenues that affect the calculation of the compensation. The starting price is 52 million (including VAT) for the entire period, while in the previous tender it was 46 million gross per year ".

It remains possible, until January 31, 2023, that a Community carrier accepts to operate the routes without exclusivity and without compensation.

“The maximum rates envisaged, net of airport taxes for passengers residing on the routes to and from Rome Fiumicino, are equal to the current ones. Disabled people, young people from 2 to 21 years old, university students up to 27 years old, seniors over 70, and for the Iata Winter season only, even non-residents traveling on the routes charged for work reasons are always treated as residents. . Within 2 years of age, free flights for children and a 30% reduction from 2 to 12 years of age. The regulation of places reserved for health emergencies remains unchanged ".

On some routes, the Region explained, “an upward trend in supply is expected compared to 2022, taking into account the increase in demand recorded in the post-pandemic. The baggage regime remains unchanged ”.

The usual safeguard clauses to cover a greater demand than the estimated one, through the increase in frequencies or the provision of planes with greater capacity, are also taken into account.