Business · Companies · 11 hrs ago
Aeroitalia plans to leave Sardinia's subsidised flight routes
Aeroitalia says it plans to leave Sardinia's subsidised flight routes after a dispute over the cost of operating them.
The routes connect Cagliari and Olbia with Rome, and Olbia with Milan.
These flights are part of Sardinia's territorial continuity system, which supports air links between the island and mainland Italy.
Aeroitalia says fuel averaged €1,460 per tonne, compared with about €630 assumed in the route tender, leaving it with €18.4 million in extra costs.
The company says its calculated compensation is far below those extra costs: it says regional and aviation authorities put its April-to-September payment at €2.6 million.
The airline says there will be no disruption for passengers and wants to agree on an orderly end to its contract with the region.
The region says the airline can withdraw with six months' notice and says it will act within its powers; Aeroitalia hopes to complete the process by January 2027.
Aeroitalia says it plans to leave Sardinia’s subsidised flight routes, saying higher fuel costs make the operations unsustainable.
Chief executive Gaetano Intrieri said the airline wants to agree an orderly end to its agreement with the Sardinia regional government, possibly by January 2027.
Aeroitalia said its fuel costs from April to September averaged €1,460 per tonne, compared with about €630 estimated in the tender.
The airline said this created an extra cost of €18.4 million, while calculations by the region and the national aviation authority put its compensation at €2.6 million.
The Sardinia regional government said Aeroitalia had raised the possibility of giving up routes without compensation and said it would act within its remit.
- Who
- Aeroitalia, whose chief executive is Gaetano Intrieri, plans to leave the routes.
- What
- The airline wants to end its operation of subsidised routes in Sardinia. It says it will seek an orderly conclusion and that there will be no disruption for passengers.
- When
- Aeroitalia announced its plan on November 2, 2026. It said it hoped to conclude the process by January 2027.
- Where
- Sardinia, on routes connecting Cagliari and Olbia with Rome Fiumicino, and Olbia with Milan Linate.
- Why
- Aeroitalia says fuel costs have far exceeded the tender’s estimate and that the compensation calculated for it is insufficient.
Aeroitalia
Sardinia regional government
Fuel costs and compensation
Aeroitalia
Aeroitalia says fuel averaged €1,460 per tonne, against an estimated €630, and that its extra costs were €18.4 million.
Sardinia regional government
The region and the national aviation authority calculated that Aeroitalia was due €2.6 million for April to September.
Reason for the stalled compensation process
Aeroitalia
Intrieri said the process stalled for reasons he believed were more political than technical.
Sardinia regional government
The region said it had committed to provide funding and would intervene within its remit; it did not give a reason for the delay.
Aeroitalia told officials that fuel costs had risen by 150% compared with February and raised concerns about the tender.
The regional government committed to allocate about €20 million to Aeroitalia and ITA Airways, to be divided according to each airline’s activity.
Aeroitalia said the promised resources had still not arrived.
Intrieri announced that Aeroitalia planned to leave the routes and seek an orderly end to its agreement.
Aeroitalia said it hoped to conclude the process.
- Extra fuel cost
- €18.4 million, according to Aeroitalia
- Compensation calculated
- €2.6 million for April to September, according to the region and ENAC
- Fuel price
- €1,460 per tonne average, against about €630 estimated in the tender
- Routes
- Cagliari–Rome Fiumicino; Olbia–Rome Fiumicino; Olbia–Milan Linate
- Planned exit target
- January 2027
- Airline workforce
- About 800 employees, nearly half in Sardinia
What people are saying
At these figures, we believe there are no longer conditions for us to continue operating.
There will be no disruption for citizens.
In Sardinia, however, the process stalled for reasons that, in our view, were more political than technical.