A gift. Worth six figures. Totaled at €121.1 million, just adding together the public funding provided to Sardinian airports from 2010 to today. This money was intended to achieve the exact level of infrastructure that allowed Cagliari, Olbia, and Alghero to exceed 10.6 million passengers in 2024.

But now the collective goal, one of the few objectives that has reconciled the left and right over time, risks ending up in private hands. It's even enriched by the financial treasure brought in by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).

The funds, which already own the Alghero and Olbia ports, are now targeting Cagliari.

The Mameli

Let's start with the Mameli airport in Cagliari-Elmas, the profit-generating airport that must be handed over to the F2I Ligantia investment fund for no apparent reason. The 94.449% stake held by the Chamber of Commerce would protect it from any attack, but the chosen approach is different. It cost €200 million to build, as estimated two years ago by the Region, one of the financiers along with the State. Then another €53.3 million arrived from Sardinia to continue improving the infrastructure and promoting the air travel system. The bill is set to rise by at least another €30 million if the Region, now led by Alessandra Todde's Campo Largo, were to confirm its push for privatization and acquire a 5% stake.

The stories of the Olbia and Alghero airports are equally rich in public donations.

Alessandro Carta

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