The Olbia-Cagliari railway corridor — Sardinia's main inter-city rail line now undergoing fast train testing. Photo: RENTAL12

Sardinia Tests Fast Train as New Inter-Island Flights Stumble

Floriana Panvini Rosati · 9 min read · 5 July 2026

Inter-island flights take off — to near-empty cabins

Quick answer: Aeroitalia launched inter-island flights between Cagliari, Olbia, and Alghero on July 3-4, 2026, but the debut carried fewer than 10 passengers on a 68-seat ATR 72 and arrived more than an hour late — raising immediate questions about whether the subsidised service has a viable future.

The idea was sound: connect Sardinia's three major cities by air for the first time in decades, giving residents and visitors a fast alternative to the island's notoriously slow trains and congested highways. The Sardinia Region subsidised the trial. Aeroitalia, the Rome-based carrier that already operates the island's mainland continuity routes, won the contract. Flights would run on 68-seat ATR 72 turboprops, Mondays and Fridays, from July 3 through August 31.

Launch day: fewer than 10 passengers

The reality was less impressive. Journalist Umberto Zedda of L'Unione Sarda reported from the departure gate on July 4: the Cagliari-Olbia flight carried fewer than 10 passengers and departed more than one hour late. The Cagliari-Alghero service — also inaugural — was similarly thin.

The sparse demand was not entirely unpredictable. When Aeroitalia CEO Gaetano Intrieri announced the routes in March 2026, he framed them as a mobility service rather than a commercial play:

"This is also because the Region also contributes to domestic flights, so it's designed to improve the mobility of Sardinian citizens within Sardinia's major cities." — Gaetano Intrieri, CEO of Aeroitalia, March 2026

Why the seats stayed empty

Chief Commercial Officer Massimo Di Perna pitched the fares as "very competitive" at €39.99 one way. The schedule, however, limits utility: departures from Olbia at 9:00 AM and from Cagliari at 3:00 PM on just two days a week leave little flexibility for either business or leisure travelers.

A pattern of disruption

The delay on the inaugural service fits a wider pattern. Regional Councilor Alessandro Sorgia has been vocal about Aeroitalia's Sardinia performance, describing it in late June as plagued by:

"Chronic delays lasting hours, sudden cancellations that strand entire families, unannounced flight mergers, and a complete lack of assistance and communication to passengers." — Alessandro Sorgia, Regional Councilor, Sardinia, June 2026 (L'Unione Sarda)

For travelers reaching Olbia specifically, the inter-island flights offer a 30-minute air connection from Cagliari — useful in theory, but the twice-weekly frequency and documented punctuality issues make it a gamble rather than a reliable link. The broader flight chaos across Italian airports compounds the risk.

Fast train: the 17-year promise finally rolls

Quick answer: On the night of July 9-10, Sardinia will test the Pendolino tilting train at 150 km/h on the Cagliari-Olbia line — the first full-speed trial of rolling stock purchased in 2009 for €78 million, marking a potential 30-40% cut in travel time if the technology works as designed.

From €78 million purchase to first test run

The story of Sardinia's fast train is a case study in infrastructure delay. In 2009, the Sardinia Region purchased eight CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) diesel tilting railcars for €78 million. The trains were designed to reach 180 km/h and tilt through curves on Sardinia's winding single-track network — technology that could transform the Cagliari-Olbia corridor from a 3-hour ordeal into something closer to a competitive transport option.

Seventeen years later, those railcars are finally about to prove what they can do. Marco Noce of L'Unione Sarda reported on July 5 that a four-carriage Pendolino will run the full Cagliari-Olbia line on the night of July 9-10, hitting a peak of 150 km/h on the straighter section south of Decimomannu.

An Aeroitalia flight arriving at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport — the airline now operates the new inter-island service. Photo: RENTAL12

What the July 9 night test will measure

The test is dramatic in its logistics. All level crossings along the route will be closed from 10:30 PM to 5:00 AM. Sandbags will simulate passenger weight. The train will run non-stop — no intermediate halts — to measure pure speed performance across the full 270 km corridor. Vistanet confirmed that partial secret tests had been conducted in prior months, but this is the first end-to-end full-speed run.

The leaked target vs. the realistic one

The test was meant to remain confidential. That plan ended when Mayor Settimo Nizzi of Olbia appeared on Videolina and declared that the journey would take "two hours and 15 minutes." Railway insiders told L'Unione Sarda that achieving 2 hours 30 minutes would already be considered a success, given the infrastructure constraints of a predominantly single-track line with tight curves through the Sardinian interior.

Even at the more conservative 2h30m target, the fast train would cut current rail travel time by roughly 20-30%. The current service requires a connection change at Ozieri-Chilivani, where passengers sometimes wait 30-50 minutes for the onward train. The Pendolino would run the full distance without stops — a fundamentally different experience. For travelers, this would make rail competitive with driving for the first time in Sardinia's history.

When passengers might actually board

The €78 million question: when would passengers actually board? No date has been announced for regular service. The test is a technical milestone, not a timetable commitment. Infrastructure upgrades — signaling, platform adjustments, level crossing automation — would still need completion before daily operations could begin. But after 17 years of waiting, the fact that the train is moving at speed is itself news.

Four ways to travel Cagliari to Olbia: compared

Quick answer: Driving remains the most reliable current option at approximately 3 hours via the SS131. The inter-island flight is fastest in the air but hampered by delays and a twice-weekly schedule. The fast train, if it enters service, would offer the best balance of speed, comfort, and frequency — but that remains an "if."

The comparison at a glance

Why driving still wins — for now

The comparison reveals why driving has dominated Sardinian inter-city travel for decades: it works, every day, on your schedule, with all your luggage. The fast train is the only option that could genuinely shift this dynamic — a direct, comfortable, 2h15-2h30 service would undercut driving on both time and stress, especially for solo travelers and couples without a car.

The inter-island flights, by contrast, occupy an awkward middle ground. They are faster in the air but slower door-to-door once you factor in airport check-in, security, and the distance from Cagliari-Elmas airport to the city centre. The twice-weekly frequency eliminates spontaneity. And the delays documented in Sardinia's recent flight disruption pattern suggest the service may struggle to build the trust it needs.

The broader island access picture

For context on getting to the island itself, the ferry pricing crisis and Lufthansa's Olbia route adjustments have already reshaped how travelers plan their Sardinia access in 2026.

Aeroitalia at Olbia Costa Smeralda — the inter-island flights launched on July 3, but early operations have been rocky. Photo: RENTAL12

What this means for travelers reaching Olbia

Quick answer: Olbia remains best reached by direct flight (42 airlines serve Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in summer 2026), by ferry from the mainland, or by car once on the island. The fast train would add a strong option for travelers arriving in Cagliari who want to reach Olbia without driving.

The direct route remains best

For guests heading to Olbia and the surrounding coast, the practical takeaway is straightforward: fly or ferry direct to Olbia whenever possible. Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport's record 2026 summer schedule — 42 airlines, over 100 routes — means most European cities have a nonstop connection. That remains the fastest, most predictable path.

The Cagliari-to-Olbia secondary airport strategy

The transport stories matter for a different scenario: travelers who arrive in Cagliari (often on cheaper flights) and need to reach the northeast coast. Today, that means a 3-hour drive or a painful train journey. A working fast train would transform this secondary-airport strategy into a viable option — land in Cagliari, take a 2h15m train to Olbia, skip the rental car entirely.

Olbia as a hub, not a waypoint

As Kristina, co-founder of RENTAL12 and Olbia resident, puts it: "People think they need to stay far from the city to enjoy the beaches. But from Olbia, you reach everything faster — and with better food, better walks and easier logistics."

That connectivity advantage — Olbia as a hub rather than a waypoint — is exactly what improved rail service would reinforce. Simon Darmanin, Head of Operations at the hosting group, has noted that "Italian fiscal compliance is where 80% of cross-border B2B contracts get stuck" — a friction that better transport alone cannot solve but that faster internal connectivity makes worth solving for corporate housing clients who increasingly book extended stays across Sardinia's cities.

We will update this article after the July 9-10 test results are published and when any regular service timetable is announced.

Update history

5 July 2026 — Initial publication. Sources: L'Unione Sarda (Umberto Zedda, 4 July 2026; Marco Noce, 5 July 2026; original Aeroitalia announcement, 23 March 2026; flight delays report, 24 June 2026), Vistanet (5 July 2026), Aeroitalia, Ferrovie della Sardegna.

Frequently asked questions

How long will the fast train take from Cagliari to Olbia?

How long will the Pendolino fast train take to travel from Cagliari to Olbia, Sardinia?

The Pendolino tilting train targets 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes between Cagliari and Olbia, down from the current 3 hours 10 minutes with a connection change at Ozieri-Chilivani.

Mayor Settimo Nizzi of Olbia stated the journey would take 2 hours 15 minutes, while railway sources consider 2 hours 30 minutes a realistic success target. The current service requires a transfer at Ozieri-Chilivani, adding significant waiting time. The Pendolino would run direct without intermediate stops. The July 9-10 2026 test is the first full-speed trial, but no regular service date has been set. The train was purchased in 2009 from CAF for €78 million and is designed for speeds up to 180 km/h, though infrastructure limits the test to 150 km/h.

Can I fly between Cagliari and Olbia in summer 2026?

Are there flights between Cagliari and Olbia airports in summer 2026?

Aeroitalia operates inter-island flights between Cagliari and Olbia from July 3 to August 31, 2026, on Mondays and Fridays only, using 68-seat ATR 72 aircraft with fares starting at EUR 39.99 one way.

The trial service is subsidised by the Sardinia Region. The Cagliari-Olbia flight departs Olbia at 9:00 AM (arriving Cagliari 10:10 AM) and returns from Cagliari at 3:00 PM (arriving Olbia 4:10 PM). A parallel Cagliari-Alghero service runs on the same days. The inaugural flights on July 3-4 carried fewer than 10 passengers and departed more than one hour late. It is unclear whether the service will be extended beyond August 31.

When will the Sardinia fast train enter regular service?

When will the Pendolino tilting train begin carrying passengers between Cagliari and Olbia?

No official date has been announced for regular passenger service; the July 9-10 2026 test is the first full-speed trial of the Pendolino tilting train on the Cagliari-Olbia corridor after 17 years since the EUR 78 million railcar purchase.

The test scheduled for the night of July 9-10 will use sandbags instead of passengers. Even after a successful speed test, infrastructure work including signaling upgrades, platform modifications, and level crossing automation would need completion before regular service. Sardinia has 8 CAF diesel tilting railcars in its fleet. Partial secret tests were conducted in prior months. The goal is to make rail competitive with road transport for the first time on this corridor.

What is the fastest way from Cagliari to Olbia right now?

What is the quickest current transport option from Cagliari to Olbia, Sardinia?

The fastest current option is driving via the SS131 highway (approximately 3 hours for 270 km); the inter-island flight takes about 30 minutes in the air but operates only twice weekly with documented delays exceeding 1 hour.

Driving via the SS131 takes approximately 3 hours and offers complete schedule flexibility. The inter-island flight is faster in the air (~30 minutes) but operates only on Mondays and Fridays, and the inaugural service suffered delays of more than 1 hour. Door-to-door, including airport transfers, the flight is not significantly faster than driving. The current train service takes 3 hours 10 minutes or more and requires a connection at Ozieri-Chilivani. Aeroitalia's broader Sardinia network connects Olbia directly to mainland Italy.