"We are moving forward with determined work, but we are treading carefully. Today, the available resources have been moved to 2027 so that we can conduct the necessary in-depth studies on the issue with full transparency." This was stated in the Chamber by Transport Councillor Barbara Manca during her response to the consideration of Article 4, regarding the Council's decision to move the €30 million allocation for the airport merger from 2026 to 2027.
That said, "the Region will have the power to direct the process for the first time by joining a holding company that will manage the three airports. Provided all the steps are successful." As for shareholder agreements, "they are an aspect the Presidency is further examining to protect the public interest within the industrial integration process."
The fact that the majority is undergoing a significant reflection on the appropriateness of allocating the thirty million is clear from the speech by AVS group leader (and mayor of Elmas), Maria Laura Orrù: "The airport issue is one of the most important steps of the legislative session," she said. "It's not just a corporate transaction; we're making a choice that will shape Sardinia's development model: mobility, tourism, the economy, and jobs for the coming decades. I also speak as the mayor of the municipality that hosts Sardinia's main airport, so I feel a duty to address this issue responsibly."
Orrù dwells on the political significance of this decision: "Sardinia is an island. For us, airports aren't just infrastructure, but tools that ensure mobility and allow citizens to access services, even essential ones, which are often located outside the region." In short, "the issue can't be addressed solely through financial considerations; politics must put the general interest at the center."
The AVS representative recalls that "the operation envisages a significant public investment, with the Region's entry into the holding company while private control remains in place. The term sheet contains important clauses protecting the public interest, but it is legitimate to question whether these instruments are robust enough to ensure that the public interest prevails should decisions be made geared toward economic profitability. " Furthermore, "there are hundreds of workers behind the airport system; what guarantees are in place to protect them? We must ask ourselves this because when market forces prevail, labor costs risk becoming the variable to be addressed." Finally, "the observations of the Court of Auditors also deserve maximum attention." The Chamber nevertheless approved the amendment moving the allocation from 2026 to 2027.
The elimination of the airport tax for the winter months of 2026, 2027, and 2028 was also approved. An amendment by the Council allocated 18.2 million.
