Sardinian Region Hits Out at Aeroitalia Over Contract Breaches
The Sardinian regional government has taken a strong stance against Aeroitalia, criticising the airline for numerous breaches of its territorial continuity contract. According to sources, Aeroitalia has unilaterally cancelled several dozen flights and made schedule changes without consulting the region, causing significant inconvenience to passengers.
In an extraordinary meeting of the joint committee for monitoring air transport, regional councilor for Transport, Barbara Manca, expressed her concerns over Aeroitalia’s modus operandi, stating that it does not respect the objectives of territorial continuity of air traffic. "We have challenged Aeroitalia for this modus operandi which does not respect the objectives of territorial continuity of air traffic," Manca explained, as reported by Unione Sarda. "It is not acceptable that cancellations and changes to flight schedules which are part of the structural offer of the continuity contract are communicated unilaterally by the carrier without the necessary authorization from the Region, with consequent serious inconvenience for passengers, and with little notice."
The regional services also raised concerns over discrepancies in Aeroitalia’s adherence to the decree regarding the transport of sports club equipment, as well as the imposition of surcharges and commissions on "ancillary" services such as seat selection and additional luggage for resident passengers. Furthermore, the airline has been criticized for its long refund processing times in the event of cancellations.
Manca emphasised that the region has established a constructive and collaborative dialogue with all airlines involved in territorial continuity, but stressed that breaches of the contract will not be tolerated. "We are and will be very intransigent on this and we will monitor to protect the primary interest of the public service," she concluded, as quoted by Unione Sarda.
The Sardinian regional government’s move to address these issues is seen as a significant step in protecting the rights of passengers and ensuring that airlines operate within the terms of their contracts. As the region continues to monitor Aeroitalia’s operations, it remains to be seen how the airline will respond to these criticisms and whether it will make changes to its practices.
The controversy highlights the importance of effective regulation and oversight in the aviation industry, particularly in regions where territorial continuity contracts are in place to ensure that essential air services are maintained. As reported by Unione Sarda, the Sardinian regional government is taking a firm stance on these issues, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the interests of passengers and upholding the terms of the contract.
In a statement, Manca reiterated the region’s commitment to working with airlines to ensure that territorial continuity contracts are respected and that passengers receive the services they are entitled to. The region’s efforts to address these issues are seen as a positive step towards improving the air transport services in Sardinia and ensuring that airlines operate in a fair and transparent manner.
The Sardinian regional government’s criticism of Aeroitalia’s practices has significant implications for the airline industry, highlighting the need for airlines to adhere to the terms of their contracts and for regulatory bodies to effectively oversee their operations. As the region continues to monitor Aeroitalia’s practices, the industry will be watching closely to see how this situation develops.
According to Unione Sarda, the regional councilor for Transport, Barbara Manca, has made it clear that the region will not tolerate breaches of the contract, and will take action to protect the interests of passengers. This approach is seen as a positive step towards improving the air transport services in Sardinia and ensuring that airlines operate in a fair and transparent manner.
Original source: Unione Sarda
