Heavy discounts and a challenge between airlines reminiscent of the athletics competitions of the Olympics. On Olbia-Rome a photo finish is needed: in the three-way race between Volotea, AeroItalia and Ita Airways, the Spanish low-cost airline comes out on top with an offer of just 9 cents less than the second-placed one.

A sprint that breaks the dominance of AeroItalia, winner in the other three territorial continuity tenders, thanks - above all - to the better economic offers, decidedly lower than the starting price. From 77% of the Cagliari-Milan line to 85% of the Cagliari-Rome line. For the Region it means saving around 17 million euros.

Of course, it's not over. And not only because yesterday the Region limited itself to a "provisional award" of the one-year contract which will begin in October. But also because territorial continuity has accustomed us, up to now, to discreet twists.

In the meantime, the alarm of the unions about the awarding of the most important routes - those of Cagliari - to AeroItalia is added to that of politics. «The prospect of assigning the Cagliari routes to a company that has just given a lump sum to Alghero raises concerns», attacks Ugo Cappellacci, Forza Italia MP.

The spotlight is now on AeroItalia, the company founded just two years ago that has managed territorial continuity in Olbia and Alghero until now. Many look to the fleet. Just to manage the Cagliari flights, 5-6 planes are needed and AeroItalia now has 12 with which it must also guarantee connections in Sicily and on the rest of the network. «But we expect another 3 by October», says CEO Gaetano Intrieri, who reiterates: «We will also extend the subsidized prices to Sardinians no longer resident on the island, as we are doing in Olbia and Alghero».

AeroItalia was awarded the flights Cagliari-Rome (offer of 1,193,585 euros, approximately a third of what Ita Airways requested), Cagliari-Milan (1,238,903 euros) and Olbia-Milan (539,907 euros). Volotea will guarantee connections between Olbia and Rome with an economic compensation of 235,393 euros and 91 cents. A breath less than AeroItalia, which in any case can always play the offer card without compensation. We will see.

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