"Dear Union,
The closure of Alitalia has brought to media attention a never forgotten and never resolved problem for Sardinians, who live in an irremediable contradiction between a monopolistic model that should protect them and end up disadvantaging them.
Let's get down to the concrete. I travel to Rome from Alghero every week, for years, and I have never been able to take advantage of the 25% discount that Alitalia offered monthly on all Italian routes, because the only ones excluded were those in continuity to and from Sardinia . Indeed a nice advantage!
From Alghero there are no low-cost flights to Rome, so the only choice has always been Alitalia for 135 euros (+ 16 or 30 by train from Fiumicino to Rome). And then, from time to time, I embarked on daring trips to Naples, Bologna and Pisa, which with 9 euros by flight and 20 by train brought me to my destination and back with 60 euros. Less than half, all inclusive.
A few days ago Volotea was awarded territorial continuity for 7 months, pending the new tender, with a reduction of almost 16 million for the region. But the prices for Sardinians remain the same, compared to tariffs decided 20 years ago at the regional level and included in the tender. And so (paradox of paradoxes) if you could fly from Olbia to Milan-Bergamo with 9 euros, now we will have the discounted rate of 70 euros. Great!
But, it will be said, the low-cost airlines do not guarantee the baggage in the hold, the three flights (but Alitalia has been guaranteeing only 2 flights to Alghero for almost two years, except in July-mid-September, without any penalty with respect to the signed contract), the drink (which Alitalia has not distributed for 2 years due to Covid), free change, transport of animals, bodies and everything that is foreseen in continuity. Very true. And yet, how many Sardinians check in the 23 kg baggage? How many carry the animal in the hold? Very few, and on rare occasions. More tourists take advantage of this option, in a continuity that for non-Sardinians ends in June, with the start of the tourist season, when the rates rise to unsustainable prices. And how many Sardinians would prefer a competitive rate, rather than having drinks and snacks that they may not consume, and luggage and animals that almost always do not board?
One possibility would be to keep these options of your choice, with a higher rate for the rare needs that it is sacrosanct to protect, and the real needs that it is equally sacrosanct to foresee. I believe that between 135 euros with all the options, and 80 without attachments and connected, many would have no doubts (a bag of 23 kg cost an average of 25 euros each way, on Alitalia). Or even three bands, one of which without ticket change, even lower, at the risk of the Sardinians.
The optimum would be the adoption of the Spanish model, with the choice by the resident of which company and route to choose (thus expanding the offer beyond Rome and Milan), and the reimbursement of the Region of 50% of the ticket price directly to the company. The savings would be considerable for travelers and the Region, finally allowing access to a free market that is in fact denied by the current state of affairs, which has remained unchanged for 30 years now, when low-cost prices did not exist and an airline ticket. it had very high prices.
How long does Sardinia want to remain perched on positions out of time, from the logic of the market and from the real needs of the Sardinians? We hope that the new biennial call will be coordinated with experts who develop an alternative and innovative model ”.
Rosanna Morace
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