ITA Airways and Volotea partner to connect their networks and serve select destinations in Sardinia

 

Volotea and ITA Airways have submitted a joint bid for the PSO (Public Service Obligation) tenders for Sardinia, specifically for the Cagliari–Rome Fiumicino and Olbia–Milan Linate routes (round-trip). Should the bid be successful for one or both routes, the two companies have committed to forming a Temporary Business Association (RTI). This decision stems from a shared goal of ensuring Sardinian citizens have access to efficient, regular, and high-quality air connections, with a reliable service and flight offering tailored to the island's mobility needs. This collaboration brings together two highly complementary companies and supports the success of the PSO programme. Moreover, through an interline agreement focused on Rome Fiumicino, Volotea and ITA Airways will provide passengers with more connection options.

 

Thanks to Volotea’s extensive experience operating PSO routes — one in Italy and three in France — and ITA Airways’ comprehensive network from its hubs in Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate, should the routes be awarded, passengers will benefit from an integrated service emphasizing operational reliability and accessible fares. The partnership aims to offer a concrete response to the mobility needs of Sardinian residents, ensuring year-round connectivity with mainland Italy, including during low-season periods, with convenient schedules and services tailored to travel needs for health, work, study, and tourism purposes.

 

“This strategic partnership with ITA Airways marks a pivotal moment for Volotea’s development in Italy—not just in Sardinia, an important market for us for many years, but also globally,” said Carlos Muñoz, Founder and CEO of Volotea. “By combining our offering with ITA Airways, Italy’s reference carrier, and creating synergies to better serve Sardinia, we aim to offer Italian consumers more options and, in particular, a stronger solution for territorial continuity. This is our first joint bid with ITA Airways, and we share the common goal of delivering a strong, synergistic, and sustainable proposal to ensure punctual, efficient, and accessible air services for all.”

 

“We are particularly proud of our partnership with Volotea, an agile and innovative carrier that, like us, has seen significant growth in recent years,” said Joerg Eberhart, CEO and General Director of ITA Airways. “I believe Volotea is the ideal partner to embark on a virtuous path that will allow us to further expand our network by leveraging Volotea’s continental reach. Pending a positive outcome from the PSO tender process, our aim is to guarantee Sardinian residents a service that meets their mobility needs—efficient and reliable. We reaffirm our commitment as a key player in Italy’s mobility landscape, working daily to provide high-quality services and respond to the needs of the communities we connect.”

 

A Common Project Reinforced by an Interline Agreement

The decision to jointly participate in selected tenders, through the formation of two upcoming RTIs, is part of a broader strategy that includes the recently signed and now active bilateral interline agreement between the two airlines. This joint project allows both carriers to offer a more extensive combined network, generating 118 new connecting opportunities from Rome Fiumicino. This will be possible through a single booking and direct baggage transfer to the final destination, without the need to collect luggage at the Roman hub.

Tags: Carlos Muñoz,  Volotea Joerg Eberhart,  ITA Airways