All in the hands of the new airline. And while the workers, from Alitalia to Air Italy, are hoping for the new course, the connections to Sardinia will have to deal with the unknown factor of territorial continuity for the residents which, at least for the moment, risks disappearing.
That is the regime that allows residents to travel from the Sardinian airports of Cagliari Elmas, Olbia and Alghero to Rome and Milan at controlled rates. Reduced prices that the airline can guarantee by virtue of the public economic compensation linked to the agreement stipulated with the Region.
Rates node for residents
But this is exactly where the problem arises. The new Ita company cannot inherit the routes from Alitalia and therefore, not even the agreement with the Region. “Here the case arises – says Arnaldo Boeddu, general secretary of Filt Sardegna – because since Ita cannot inherit the Alitalia agreement, it is necessary to activate a procedure, of which nothing is now known, to guarantee connections at controlled prices”.
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An interim solution
For the trade unionist the only way to follow is that of a “manifestation of interest in a provisional assignment”, all while waiting for the new announcement to be made. “From 15 October we must intervene with an emergency procedure to guarantee controlled ticket prices for residents – he argues – then we have to work for the rest. Also because the timing of an international call provides for a publication of six months and then another six months. It is not permissible to leave passengers without territorial continuity for one year “.
Personal knot
There is also concern for the future of workers. Because, “on the newco ITA the strong doubts continue to persist with respect to an industrial plan with a number of aircraft too small to be able to satisfy not only the needs of passengers but to guarantee the employment levels expressed by the former national airline”.
Air Italy dispute
In the air transport game there is then the question relating to the Sardinian Qatari airline Air Italy in liquidation since February 2020. On December 31st of this year the layoffs for the almost 1,400 employees distributed between the hubs of Olbia and Malpensa will expire. . “A solution must be found – he argues – which also involves the intervention of the two Regions involved, Sardinia and Lombardy. In addition to the Government “.