October's Great Flight Rush: Flights Down 80% on the Island

And this year too, at the end of October, flights connecting Sardinia directly to the rest of Europe go into hibernation. Within a month and a half, the usual drastic drop in connections (outside territorial continuity) arrives: routes are reduced by about 80%.

The decline in Cagliari is less marked, but much steeper in Olbia and Alghero. Although airlines are still finalizing their plans (something will be added), and although there are new arrivals (Volotea is strengthening its presence at the "Aga Khan" airport, Wizzair and EasyJet at Elmas), the situation until April – for five long months – is bleak. And this winter, with the disproportionate increase in the cost of jet fuel due to the wars, the economic situation is extremely unfavorable , because idling aircraft is more cost-effective than running them at less than full capacity and at "low" fares.

Data from the Regional Department of Tourism for 2025 clearly shows the impact of the winter cuts on arrivals to the island: nearly 2.8 million in June, July, and August; just over 2 million in April, May, September, and October; and 374,000 in January, February, March, November, and December. In short, non-beach tourism remains a pipe dream.