03.06.26

SACBO Celebrates the “Bike Future Challenge”

On the occasion of World Bicycle Day, on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, SACBO organised the closing event of the first edition of the “Bike Future Challenge” project at the Aero Club Bergamo headquarters. The initiative, dedicated to promoting sustainable mobility, involved secondary schools across the Province of Bergamo.

The event marked the conclusion of a programme developed throughout the entire school year, during which students took part in educational visits organised at the airport and attended dedicated sessions exploring the sustainability policies adopted by the airport, while also developing projects and innovative proposals.

Approximately 250 students attended the closing event, and each school was provided with a dedicated exhibition stand to showcase its project through visual materials, prototypes, videos and multimedia content.

Certificates and awards were presented by SACBO Chairman Giovanni Sanga to representatives of IISS Ettore Majorana, Centro Studi Leonardo da Vinci, ITC Vittorio Emanuele II, ENGIM Lombardia E.T.S. and ABF Azienda Bergamasca Formazione. During the award ceremony, he expressed his appreciation for the particular attention students had devoted to airport infrastructure and services supporting cycling mobility and cycle tourism.

Milan Bergamo Airport, the first Italian airport to obtain bike-friendly certification, features a dedicated bike room and specific services for cycle tourists, reflecting a growing integration between air transport and sustainable mobility.

“The SACBO Group is committed to developing numerous initiatives aimed at reducing environmental impact and encouraging sustainable behaviour,” stated SACBO Chairman Giovanni Sanga. “The recent achievement of the Gold Bike Friendly certification confirms our tangible commitment to promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of transport, capable of contributing to the reduction of CO₂ emissions, improving environmental quality and enhancing people’s well-being.”

As part of the “Bike Future Challenge” project, students from IISS Ettore Majorana created videos, presentations, brochures, posters and interactive web pages dedicated to sustainable mobility and the SACBO Bike Friendly project.

Their work explored themes such as cycling infrastructure, airport-territory connections and environmental sustainability. They also developed a cargo bike prototype for luggage transport and a territorial model illustrating the cycling network between Bergamo and the airport.

Students from Centro Studi Leonardo Da Vinci created a promotional poster and an interactive web page focused on sustainable mobility and the use of bicycles in urban environments, with particular attention to local community engagement and the promotion of sustainable behaviours.

Students from ABF Azienda Bergamasca Formazione designed an energy bar inspired by local products, combining sustainability, food research and nutritional balance.

In addition, the closing event featured peer-to-peer workshops involving students from the different participating schools, as well as experiential laboratories dedicated to sustainable mobility. Students had the opportunity to learn about aircraft operations thanks to certified instructors from Aero Club Bergamo Guido Taramelli, reflecting on the relationship between air transport and sustainability. At the same time, experts from FIAB (Italian Federation for Environment and Bicycle) led activities focused on cycling, safety and sustainable mobility. Visit Bergamo also organised workshops dedicated to tourism hospitality, cycling and cycle tourism, including sessions conducted in English.

Through the “Bike Future Challenge” project, SACBO reaffirms its role as an active contributor to the sustainable development of the local area, promoting a culture of innovative and responsible mobility that successfully combines environmental awareness, infrastructure, tourism and the education of future generations.

22.05.26

JAZEERA AIRWAYS LAUNCHES DIRECT FLIGHT BETWEEN KUWAIT CITY AND MILAN BERGAMO

Jazeera Airways, Kuwait’s leading low-cost carrier inaugurated its direct flight between Kuwait and Milan Bergamo Airport on Friday, May 22, 2026. The new service will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with an Airbus 320neo aircraft.

To mark the arrival of the first flight from Kuwait, Milan Bergamo Airport hosted a press conference attended by His Excellency Nasser Alqahtani, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Italy, Mohammed Khaled Al-Ajran - Consul General of the State of Kuwait to Milan, Barathan Pasupathi, Chief Executive Officer of Jazeera Airways, Chief Commercial Officer, Paul Carroll, SACBO Vice President Fabio Bombardieri, General Manager Amelia Corti, Giacomo Cattaneo, Aviation Commercial Director, Marketing & Communications and several other dignitaries.

This new opening has seen ENAC actively involved in the development of bilateral relations, as ENAC President Pierluigi Di Palma emphasizes. "The inauguration of the direct connection between Bergamo and Kuwait strengthens the strategic axis between the two countries, ideally uniting Europe and the Arabian Peninsula. This milestone is the tangible result of solid bilateral relations cultivated in recent years by Italy and ENAC, which now also create a tangible bridge between two civilizations between Bergamo and Kuwait City, as well as a lever for further economic development. Expanding connections means boosting tourism, creating new jobs, and making the region a hub for investment. The 2025 figures, with 230 million passengers at our airports, confirm the full recovery of the sector and the central role of air transport as a driver of competitiveness. Civil aviation is flying high again, looking, with renewed confidence and with new air networks, to the future of innovative, sustainable, and inclusive mobility."

His Excellency Nasser Alqahtani said: “We are pleased today to attend the inauguration of Jazeera Airways’ new direct route between the State of Kuwait and the Italian city of Bergamo. This occasion represents an important step toward strengthening the outstanding relations between the State of Kuwait and the Italian Republic. The launch of this route serves as an additional bridge for communication between the Kuwaiti and Italian peoples, as well as an opportunity to further enhance bilateral relations in the economic, tourism, and investment sectors. This year also marks the sixty- second anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries. Over the past period, these relations have witnessed remarkable progress across several fields, and both sides, Italy and Kuwait, look forward to further strengthening and expanding them toward broader horizons. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the local authorities and to the management of Bergamo Airport, while also highly valuing the role played by the management and team of Jazeera Airways and commending their dedication to expanding their new air connectivity network between Kuwait and Bergamo.”

Amelia Corti, managing director of SACBO, stated: "We are proud to include Kuwait City in the Milan Bergamo Airport network of destinations. This is a new star to add to our constellation, a connection that fits our strategy of expanding connectivity with the Gulf region. The opening of the route is the result of extensive preparation by our team, which found full synergy within the airline, sharing a business model based on concreteness, long-term vision, and rapid decision-making. I particularly congratulate Jazeera Airways for their determination to adhere to the pre-established schedule, particularly in the two months preceding the first flight to Bergamo. The success of the route has been and will continue to be crucial to the tourism sector, starting with the Lombardy Region and local authorities, with the aim of promoting everything that makes the areas easily accessible from our airport attractive. The development of relationships and collaborations could also benefit the economic sector, thanks to a vast and diverse production and industrial network, such as that of education, which sees the University of Bergamo increasingly internationalized”.

Speaking at the press conference, Barathan Pasupathi, CEO of Jazeera Airways highlighted:

“We are thrilled to start our operations to the beautiful city of Milan Bergamo. Milan Bergamo marks far more than the launch of a new destination for Jazeera Airways. With this new destination, we are not just launching flights to Italy but establishing a gateway to Europe. Milan Bergamo is the foundation of our expansion into Europe and the first step in building a broader network across the continent. Following Bergamo, we will be announcing other exciting destinations and look forward to designing a network focused on convenience, value, and seamless connectivity. This is just the beginning of our European growth story.”

The launch of the three-weekly flights to Kuwait represents a historic milestone for Milan Bergamo Airport, the first in Italy to welcome Jazeera Airways. The opening of the new route, in addition to further expanding the network of connections from Milan Bergamo Airport to emerging markets, heralds significant tourism, cultural, and commercial expansion on both routes. The value of the direct connection to Kuwait is further enhanced by Jazeera Airways' international network, which offers connecting flights to countries in and around the Gulf region.

Jazeera Airways currently operates over 34 destinations across the Middle East, Central and South Asia, Africa, and Europe following an extended period where the Kuwait International Airport remined closed due to the geopolitical crisis. Operating a modern fleet of 23 aircraft, the airline carries more than five million passengers annually. Through its dedicated Terminal 5 (T5) at Kuwait International Airport, Jazeera Airways offers passengers a more seamless, efficient, and convenient travel experience with enhanced connectivity across its growing network. For the upcoming summer season, Jazeera Airways will expand its network to 60 destinations with more than 2 million seats on offer to travelers to and out of Kuwait.

12.05.26

CDA OF SACBO ASSIGNS POWERS TO CHAIRMAN GIOVANNI SANGA

The Board of Directors of SACBO, appointed during the Shareholders’ Meeting held on April 30 for the 2026–2028 term, has proceeded with the renewal of corporate offices.

Giovanni Sanga has been confirmed as Chairman, with the attribution of the related powers. Patrizia Savi and Fabio Bombardieri have been appointed Vice Chairpersons.

The new Board of Directors is composed of: Giovanni Sanga (Chairman), Patrizia Savi (Vice Chairperson), Fabio Bombardieri (Vice Chairperson), Daniele Belotti, Gianpietro Benigni, Massimiliano Crespi, Stefano Gallini, Renato Redondi, Pierluigi Zaccaria, and Giovanni Zambonelli.

The composition of the Board of Statutory Auditors has also been defined as follows: Alberto Ribolla, Chairman appointed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance; Beatrice Mascheretti, appointed by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport; Claudia Rossi, jointly appointed by the Municipality of Bergamo, the Province of Bergamo, and the Bergamo Chamber of Commerce; Marco Luigi Valente; and Margherita Molinari.

07.05.26

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AIR TRANSPORT

The use and applications based on Artificial Intelligence have become the subject of analysis and evaluation provided for by Legislative Decree 231, the Organizational, Management and Control Model in the civil aviation sector and a fundamental point of reference for airport management companies, airlines and handling companies. SACBO dedicated a conference to the new challenges of Artificial Intelligence, between law and liability, which took place at the Centro Congressi Giovanni XXIII in Bergamo, enabling a comparison of perspectives and potential risks of AI in air transport, with reference to its proper and regulated use, safety and digitalization processes at organizational and operational level.

“Twenty-five years after the enactment of Legislative Decree 231 (June 8, 2001), control activities aimed at preventing and combating every form of rule violation must deal with the risks connected to the improper use of a tool such as Artificial Intelligence – underlined Giovanni Sanga in his opening speech – The challenge we are now involved in is the ability to set the keys of Artificial Intelligence in such a way that it does not produce interference with the lawfulness of the prescribed way of operating. We know that it offers countless advantages, positively accelerating a series of procedures, improving the safety of operations, providing us with answers with rapid processing times. However, we must be aware of the dangers and be prepared to prevent them, before facing them. And it is interesting to see how experts in law and computer science combine their knowledge in the different profiles governing the functioning of an articulated and complex machine such as air transport.”

During the conference, the need to proceed with the mapping and detailed analysis of Artificial Intelligence systems implemented in the various airport functions was highlighted, and it emerged how fundamental the development of the skills of the corporate population is in order to consciously govern systems based on Artificial Intelligence. In this scenario, the Supervisory Body is the custodian of the ethical principles governing the use of Artificial Intelligence systems.

“In a constantly evolving reality, technology is an indispensable tool that transforms the way the airport is experienced and used – added Giovanni Sanga – But we must be aware that the legal nature must guide the exercise of control and ensure that every innovation tool, such as Artificial Intelligence, reflects the purpose that suggests its introduction and use in management and operational processes.”

The conference proceedings, moderated by Roberto Magri, featured speeches by: Stefano Coniglio, on “How machines began to speak: evolution, potential and risks of modern AI”; Benedetta Galgani, on “System 231 and AI: between new dangers and interesting perspectives”; Silvia Bonfanti on “Application of AI in air transport”; Francesca Cerea, on “Automation, AI and air traffic safety: profiles of civil liability”; Ilaria Genuessi, on “Public contracts between digitalization, artificial intelligence and organizational models for corruption prevention”; Davide Gabrielli and Dario Ricco, respectively Operational Innovation Manager and HR Industrial Relations Manager at SACBO, on “AI: new routes between law, technology and organization”.

30.04.26

SACBO SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING APPROVES 2025 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Shareholders’ Meeting of Sacbo approved the Group’s consolidated financial statements for the 2025 financial year, which include the separate financial statements of Sacbo S.p.A. and those of its wholly owned subsidiary BGY International Services S.r.l.

During 2025, the expansion works approved by ENAC and financed by Sacbo, falling within the infrastructure and technological development programs aimed at serving passengers, were completed and made operational in full compliance with the scheduled timeline. The opening in May of the new check-in hall, featuring 22 “self bag drop” stations out of a total of 64, and the opening at the end of November of the new departures area, equipped with state-of-the-art X-ray screening systems, made it possible to redesign and double the available space, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable passenger journey.

Despite ongoing construction activities, 2025 closed with a total of 16,937,976 passengers, exceeding budget forecasts and further strengthening the competitiveness of Bergamo Airport, both at national level—where it is firmly in third place after Fiumicino and Malpensa—and at European level, where it ranks 41st in the standings published by ACI Europe. In the current summer season, 23 airlines operate at the airport, and the route network includes 152 destinations in 44 countries.

In his report to the Shareholders’ Meeting, Chairman Giovanni Sanga confirmed that the Group investments of over €53 million made in 2025 to enhance airport infrastructure will be followed by those planned under the 2026–2028 Industrial Plan, in order to continue ensuring the necessary competitiveness, address technological challenges, and pursue the digitalization process within a framework of socioeconomic and environmental sustainability.

“The date of the Shareholders’ Meeting coincides with the close of the first four months of the year, which show a reassuring increase in passenger traffic of around 6 percent compared with the same period last year, even in a context of uncertainty due to ongoing conflicts and geopolitical instability affecting traffic in directly and indirectly impacted areas,” emphasized SACBO Chairman Giovanni Sanga. “At the same time, we are reassured by our airlines regarding fuel availability and the confirmation of flight schedules, which extend across an increasingly wide network of connections. The situation is being monitored to ensure continuous updates.”

With reference to the Parent Company Sacbo S.p.A., the financial year closed with total investments made during 2025 amounting to approximately €48.1 million, while the subsidiary BGY International Services S.r.l. made acquisitions totaling €4.7 million.

The SACBO Group invested significantly in sustainability, allocating approximately €10 million. Mitigation and compensation works were carried out, along with improvements in accessibility and intermodality, and electric vehicle charging stations were installed in the airside area. In addition, new electric Ground Services Equipment was purchased for handling operations, and interventions were implemented to improve the energy efficiency of infrastructure. The photovoltaic system is now fully operational, producing over 10% of the airport’s electricity needs (in addition to sourcing 60% of its total energy requirements from renewable sources). Of particular importance is the €2.8 million investment in the digital transformation process, which represents a fundamental element for the airport’s development. As a result of the investments made in recent years, depreciation recorded in the financial statements increased from €15 million in 2020 to €26.1 million in 2025.

The SACBO Group workforce as of December 31, 2025 totaled 717 employees, an increase of 41 units compared to December 31, 2024. This change is mainly attributable to the increased deployment of operational staff by the subsidiary BGY International Services (+35 employees as of December 31, 2025) to cope with the growth in passenger traffic recorded in the final months of the year and to manage new courier activities.

The Group’s value of production amounted to just under €165 million.
The value of production is broken down as follows:

• aviation revenues of the operator: €53.0 million;
• commercial revenues: €72.8 million;
• revenues from passenger, cargo, and airline assistance services: €33.4 million;
• other revenues and income: €5.3 million.

Operating profit (EBIT) at year-end amounted to €20.6 million, while the net result of the parent company Sacbo S.p.A. totaled €8.6 million. The Shareholders’ Meeting resolved to allocate 60% of this amount to dividends and the remaining 40% to extraordinary reserves.

The SACBO Shareholders’ Meeting also appointed the new Board of Directors, which will remain in office until approval of the financial statements for the 2028 financial year.
Following the Shareholders’ Meeting, the new Board of Directors is composed of: Giovanni Sanga, Daniele Belotti, Gianpietro Benigni, Fabio Bombardieri, Massimiliano Crespi, Stefano Gallini, Renato Redondi, Patrizia Savi, Pierluigi Zaccaria, Giovanni Zambonelli.

The new Board of Statutory Auditors will be reconstituted in the coming weeks with the appointment of the representative of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.