The Board of Directors of ENAC has decided to name the Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport in memory of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, "recognizing his extraordinary contribution to the development of tourism in Sardinia". This was communicated by the National Civil Aviation Authority itself in a note, just under two months after his death on February 4 in Lisbon at the age of 88. The first request was made a few days later, by the mayor of Olbia, Settimo Nizzi .
The decision, it is explained, follows the official request presented by the Municipality of Olbia, which underlined the importance of the Aga Khan in the economic and cultural transformation of the region . In 1963, the prince founded the airline Alisarda, which later evolved into Meridiana and later into Air Italy, facilitating access to Sardinia and thus determining the economic and social growth of the island, with important employment implications. Furthermore, the Aga Khan was instrumental in the construction of the airport itself.
Similarly to the procedure for naming the Milan Malpensa airport after Silvio Berlusconi, the press release states, "the request to change the airport name is the responsibility of Enac". The Board of Directors has therefore "instructed the General Director to formalize the naming of the Olbia–Costa Smeralda airport after Prince Karim Aga Khan IV , after hearing the institutional arrangements, by adopting the relevant ordinance by the competent Territorial Director, informing all interested parties and asking the management company to take care of the formalities related to the new name".
(Online Union)