The regional council approved the new guidelines proposed by the Department of Transport, led by Barbara Manca, for the "New Routes" call for proposals.

The measure requires airlines to now propose new air connections to and from Sardinia . This represents a change in approach compared to the first call for tenders, when the Region identified a list of 67 destinations for tender (only 8 were assigned), selected based on tourist appeal, passenger demand, and the need to strengthen connections with strategic international hubs.

Manca outlined the changes yesterday evening, on the sidelines of the council committee hearing: "The goal of this new tender is to simplify the procedure . Airlines will propose routes, provided they obviously comply with the guidelines of the relevant European decision, which have not changed."

The Region also aims to reduce the procedure's time: "There will not be a comparative procedure, which will be foreseen exclusively in the case where two identical destinations are submitted," Manca explained.

The measure allocates a total of €10 million, with €5 million in 2027 and the same amount in 2028, to support the launch of new national and international air connections. Concerns remain over the possible arrival of connections considered minor or of little use to Sardinians, but for the councilor, "any new route would certainly improve the Sardinia Region's air travel system."

(Unioneonline)

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