At the entrance to Cagliari-Elmas, amidst incoming tracks and taxiing planes, a laboratory is emerging that could change the way Sardinia moves and grows.
This is where the idea of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) for the island takes shape: transforming the airport into a hub capable of orchestrating tourist flows, urban connections, and economic development. No longer just flights, but an intelligent platform where data, technology, and infrastructure interact to reduce traffic, attract investment, and connect often distant territories.
With a budget of three and a half million euros, the eIns – Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia project on “Spoke 8 – Sustainable Mobility” bears the signature of the University of Cagliari, in collaboration with the University of Sassari and the main regional economic players: the Sardinia Region, Banco di Sardegna, Confindustria, Unioncamere, LegaCoop, Fondazione di Sardegna, the Port System Authority and Sogaer, the airport management company.
"We're working to create an efficient network for citizens and to support local communities," explains Gianfranco Fancello, the project's scientific director. "The goal is to create a system that fosters socioeconomic development, tourism, and quality of life. And we're doing this starting at our front doors: the airports."
Elmas is not just a starting point, but a central hub for a sustainable mobility network . A place where you can park, change vehicles, work, and purchase services. The "parking lot" concept is one of the new features: commuters could leave their cars at the terminal and then reach Cagliari by train or bus, reducing private traffic in the city.
At the same time, Olbia and Alghero are preparing their rail connection with the new slip roads currently being planned , while in Elmas the Santa Caterina Linear Park is already operational, a green hinge that brings residents and the airport closer together via cycle and pedestrian paths.
Variable message totems for intelligent parking management have already been installed—a multilingual version is coming soon—while a dedicated app will allow passengers and citizens to check availability, costs, and sustainable alternatives, also integrating the world of NCC (Chartered Car Rental).
