As reported by Aviacionline this week, the transition to normality after Alitalia’s last flight in October 14 continues. The call for applications for Sardinia’s public service obligation flights of continuità territoriale (territorial continuity) have been closed and the applicants revealed, as reported by ANSA, the country’s largest news agency.
From the twelve airlines invited – the twelfth, Tayaran Jet, was invited later – only Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) and Volotea presented applications.
Airlines could apply route by route, and so will be the decision of the Sardinia region with respect to the winning applicants; both ITA and Volotea, however, applied to the six routes offered.
Italia Trasporto Aereo is the startup of the Italian government that has the goal to «succeed» Alitalia, which is operating its last flight on October 14. ITA will start its operations the following day.
As explained by Aviacionline, the six routes – from Alghero, Cagliari and Olbia to Milan/Linate and Rome/Fiumicino – are currently operated by Alitalia, in such a way that when the airline ceases its operations, the contract would still be running.
This way, the current run for applications is an «emergency» call, from October 15 until the expiring day of Alitalia’s term, on May 14, 2022. A new, proper call will be made after that.
ANSA reports that Volotea, the Spanish low-cost that has an important presence in Italy and which had a Summer base in Olbia this year, is the one that made the best offers with respect to the subsidy established – from 21.5% to 23% less than the ceiling, which, in all routes, could reach up to EUR37 million for the seven-month contract.
However, the agency reports that the airline could lose the application because it forgot to file a copy of the document of the company representative, Michele Taucer.
The decision is expected to be taken by tomorrow morning.
