Video potovanje po svetovnih mestih

Kraj: Costa Smeralda, država: Italy

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Opis mesta: Olbia’s development has been closely linked with that of Meridiana (formerly Alisarda), which was founded in March 1963, is <strong>Italy’s oldest privately-owned airline</strong>, with 80% owned by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan. <strong>Alisarda’s Douglas DC-9-14s</strong> were first to use the new OLB airport with scheduled routes opened to <strong>Rome</strong>, <strong>Milan</strong> and <strong>Bologna</strong> – the old airport being too small to handle jets of this size. Avianova, a subsidiary of Alisarda, opened an ‘internal’ service from OLB to <strong>Cagliari</strong> in 1987 using ATR 42-300s, as well as serving Bari and Catania. Avianova was sold to Alitalia and became an <strong>Alitalia Express airine</strong>.<br><br>
Geasar SpA started to operate OLB in March 1989 when it obtained the concession for its management from the <strong>Italian Ministry of Transportation</strong>. In 1991 the name Alisarda was changed to Meridana as the airline viewed expansion both from OLB and mainland Italina cities to destinations throughout <strong>Europe</strong>. The airline’s fleet included DC-9-51s, then McDD MD-82s and finally, leased BAe 146-200s. Because of Sardinia’s island status, residents travelling with Meridiana benefit from subsidized air fares (Sicilian residents also benefit in the same way).<br><br>
The latest development of the main terminal started in 1999 when Geasar SpA was assigned <strong>a Euro 12.5 million grant</strong> jointly from the European Union, the <strong>Italian Government and the Regione Sardegna</strong> (Sardinian Region). <span class="alignright"><img src="http://www.checkmycity.com/exclusive-travel/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/airports-e1287136079306.jpg" alt="Olbia Costa Smeralda International Airport, travel, tourism, Italy, Sardinia, airtravel, airfare, cheap destination, cheap vacation, low-cost, hotel" title="Traveling to Sicily by air"></span>This grant was specifically for the improvement of the airport facilities and the first phase was completed early in 2002. The second phase, including a large airport terminal shopping mall and control tower were completed in 2004.<br><br>
Planners estimate that OLB will be set for further growth over the next 15 years, although funds totaling <strong>55 million Euros</strong> are required for the next few years to further improve infrastructure and security. In 2002 Geasar’s OLB operation earned it 15 million Euros on which it recorded a 309,000 Euro profit. OLB is now close behind Cagliari as Sardinia’s second largest airport.<br><br>
Passenger growth has been dramatic with month on month and year on year growth. OLB is also proud, that along with <strong>Venice (Marco Polo)</strong>, an <strong>Italian Civil Aviation Authority</strong> audit has stated that these two airports are operationally the safest in Italy.<br><br>
Curiously, one element is missing from OLB scene – there are no services by Italian national carrier, <strong>Alitalia</strong>. This is a consequence of Meridiana’s dominance, not only in terms of scheduled services but also of its large on-airport aircraft maintenance facility.<br><br>
Third-party maintenance is also carried out for other airlines, such as Air Nostrum, Iberia, Spanaid and its subsidiary Aerolinas de Baleares (AeBal).<br><br>
Expansion of services within Italy has resulted in a new low-cost operator starting services from the airport. Air Freedom uses <strong>Boeing 737-400s</strong> leased from <strong>Futura International of Spain</strong>. Services are planned from Olbia to Bari, Brescia, Forli, Naples, Parma, Pisa and Trieste. A wet-leased BAe 146 is also planned for an internal Sardinian service linking the island’s capital Cagliari (in the south) with Alghero (in the north). These will link with plans to fly international services from Cagliari to Barcelona, Beauvais (for Paris), Berlin, Luton, Munich and Vienna.<br><br>
OLB provides a blend of commercial and GA traffic that is varied and interesting. Viewing ad photography facilities are however practically non-existent, with the exception of views from the aero club, from the departure lounge /again through glass) and from a small road on the western perimeter. However, it should be remembered that this being part of <a href="http://www.checkmycity.com/tag/italy/">Italy</a>, activities such as viewing and photographing aircraft are not regarded favourably by the security staff and local and national police forces.
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Read <a href="http://www.checkmycity.com/Travel-Guide-olbia-and-Costa-Smeralda-Gateway/7308/">Travel Guide: Olbia and Costa Smeralda Gateway Part 1</a>
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