Aeroitalia: set to pull out of Sardinia, “the conditions aren’t right”
(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Aeroitalia is withdrawing from the Sardinian territorial continuity scheme. This was announced by the chief executive, Gaetano Intrieri, during talks with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, ENAC and the Regional Government. As early as last March, the airline had highlighted a problem with the tender: the sharp rise in fuel costs, which had increased by 150 per cent compared with February. At that time, ENAC acted promptly, to the extent that a compensation decree was almost on the table. “In Sardinia, however, the process stalled for reasons which, in our view, were more political than technical. In May – as Mr Intrieri recalled – the Autonomous Region of Sardinia committed to allocating around 20 million euros to Aeroitalia and ITA Airways, to be distributed according to the operations carried out by each airline. At that meeting, no one raised any regulatory concerns regarding the disbursement of grants to the two airlines that ensure the island’s territorial continuity. Yet, by September, those funds had still not arrived. Today, nine months on from our initial reports, we are still waiting.” Now “we believe that the conditions no longer exist for us to continue operating. Let me be clear: there will be no disruption to services for the public. However, we wish to agree with the Regional Government, in a spirit of cooperation, on an orderly conclusion to our relationship, which is now drawing to a close”. Aeroitalia employs around 800 people, almost half of whom are based in Sardinia. “Our aim,” concluded Intrieri, “will be to bring this phase to a swift close, if possible by January 2027.”
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