Olbia Costa Smeralda MRO - Atitech

IT

At Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, in the heart of the Mediterranean, Atitech – through its center of excellence already operating in the maintenance of commercial and cargo aircraft – is launching a new specialized line dedicated to the fast-growing executive aviation segment, offering tailored solutions in customization, refitting, and dedicated support.

The October 3 eventmarks the launch of Atitech’s new hub for private jet maintenance. It will bring together national and local authorities, leaders from aviation, interior design, yachting, and business to share an ambitious vision: establishing Atitech Olbia Costa Smeralda MRO as an international reference point for high-end air mobility.

The opening of the hub signals the start of Atitech’s new business line dedicated to executive aviation, and a key chapter in the vision of its President, Gianni Lettieri, focused on revitalizing Italian know-how rooted in talent, expertise, and innovation.

At launch, the Sardinia hub employs around 50 former Meridiana and Air Italy professionals in a 12,000 sqm facility. The growth plan foresees up to 330 direct employees and 100 in the supply chain by 2026, with €16 million investments and revenue projections rising from €14 million in 2026 to €60 million in 2029.

With 1,500 employees – mostly from Alitalia Maintenance – Atitech confirms its role as a strategic player in the national aviation sector, and now also as an employment and training driver for Costa Smeralda. Through Atitech Academy, partnerships with the University of Cagliari and Olbia Technical Institute involve a potential pool of over 200 students.

**– Take a look at the photo gallery from the Where Sky Meets Sea event –**

agenda

Friday 3 October

Morning: Guided tour of Atitech’s hangars at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
3:30 PM: Main event at CPH Pevero Hotel, with keynote speeches and institutional guests
8:00 PM: Exclusive Gala Dinner and live musical entertainment

Saturday 4 October

Morning: Free time
5:30 PM: Organized visit of the Tafoni, in the estate of the luxury country resort “Tenuta Pilastru”, Arzachena
8:00 PM: Final dinner with Gallura specialties

event schedule

October 3

14:30

Welcome drink in the Gerani Room

15:30

Opening theme – Start of the Event
Emilio Cozzi, Moderator, with Gianni Lettieri, Atitech Chairman, in a short exchange and introduction to the day

OPENING VIDEO: “Where Sky meets Sea”

15:40

Settimo Nizzi, Mayor of Olbia and President of North-East Gallura Provincial Government

15:50

Alessandra Todde, President, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

16:00

VIDEO MESSAGE from Adolfo Urso, Minister of Economic Development and Made in Italy

16:10

ATITECH CORPORATE VIDEO

Gianni Lettieri, Chairman Atitech

16:30

PANEL: The Importance of the Executive Aviation Sector

Silvio Pippobello, CEO, Geasar e Sogeaal (Olbia and Alghero Airports)
Pierluigi Di Palma, President, ENAC
Gianluigi Ascenzi, Lawyer specialized in Aeronautical Law

17:00

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: Sardinia, where Collaboration meets Innovation

Giacomo Cao, President, Sardinia AeroSpace District (DASS)

17:10

PANEL: The Impact on the Territory, Training, New Talent and Employment

Giuseppe Meloni, Vice President and Regional Minister for Budget, Autonomous Region of Sardinia
Francesco Mola, Rector, University of Cagliari
Aldo Carta, President, UniOlbia and Director General, Cipnes-Gallura
Marilisa Pischedda, Founder, ASTEC AeroSpace Technology Education Center
Desirè Manca, Regional Minister for Labor and Vocational Training, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

17:40

PANEL: Present and Future of Executive Aviation

Anna Clementina Veclani, Managing Director, Boeing Italy and Southern Europe
Chadi Saade, President, Airbus Corporate Jet
James Rial, Sales Director – Europe/Sub-Saharan Africa, Boeing Business Jets
Alessandro Baviera, President, Italian Business Aviation Association (IBAA) and owner of Bizjet Aviation Services Sàrl

18:10

THREE-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: The role of Interior Design in Executive Aviation and the Luxury sector

Eugen Hartl, Founder and Managing Director, EH Aviation Advisors
Elizabeth Harvey, Design Director, EH Aviation Advisors and Founder, Elizabeth Harvey Design

18:30

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: Atitech’s brand New Line of business in the heart of the Mediterranean

Pietro Pascale, Managing Director & Commercial Functions, Atitech

18:45

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: From Earth to Space: the next frontier of Executive Aviation

Paolo Nespoli, Astronaut and Aviator

19:05

VIDEO EXECUTIVE AVIATION

19:35

End of Day

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: Atitech’s brand New Line of business in the heart of the Mediterranean

Pietro Pascale, Managing Director & Commercial Functions, Atitech

Opening theme – start of the event

Emilio Cozzi, Moderator, with Gianni Lettieri, Atitech Chairman, in a short exchange and introduction to the day

OPENING VIDEO: “Where Sky meets Sea”

PODIUM: Settimo Nizzi, Mayor of Olbia and President of North-East Gallura Provincial Government

PODIUM: Alessandra Todde, President, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

VIDEO MESSAGE from Adolfo Urso, Minister of Economic Development and Made in Italy

ATITECH CORPORATE VIDEO

PODIUM: Gianni Lettieri, Chairman Atitech

PANEL: The Importance of the Executive Aviation Sector

Silvio Pippobello, CEO, Geasar e Sogeaal (Olbia and Alghero Airports)
Pierluigi Di Palma, President, ENAC
Gianluigi Ascenzi, Lawyer specialized in Aeronautical Law
Aldo Carta, President, UniOlbia and Director General, Cipnes-Gallura

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: Sardinia, where Collaboration meets Innovation

Giacomo Cao, President, Sardinia Aerospace District (DASS)

PANEL: The Impact on the Territory, Training, New Talent and Employment

Giuseppe Meloni, Vice President and Regional Minister for Budget, Autonomous Region of Sardinia
Francesco Mola, Rector, University of Cagliari
Marilisa Pischedda, Founder, ASTEC Airspace Technology Education Center
Desirè Manca, Regional Minister for Labor and Vocational Training, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

PANEL: Present and Future of Executive Aviation

Anna Clementina Veclani, Managing Director, Boeing Italy and Southern Europe
Chadi Saade, President, Airbus Corporate Jet
James Rial, Sales Director – Europe/Sub-Saharan Africa, Boeing Business Jets
Alessandro Baviera, President, Italian Business Aviation Association (IBAA)

THREE-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: The role of Interior Design in Executive Aviation and the Luxury sector

Eugen Hartl, Founder and Managing Director, EH Aviation Advisors
Elizabeth Harvey, Design Director, EH Aviation Advisors and Founder, Elizabeth Harvey Design

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: Atitech’s brand New Line of business in the heart of the Mediterranean

Pietro Pascale, Managing Director & Commercial Functions, Atitech

TWO-WAY TALK with Emilio Cozzi: From Earth to Space: the next frontier of Executive Aviation

Paolo Nespoli, Astronaut and Aviator

VIDEO EXECUTIVE AVIATION

End of Day

about the speakers

moderator

EMILIO COZZI

Journalist and Science Communicator

Journalist and author, he covers space, new technologies, video game culture, and innovation. He collaborates with national and international media such as Wired, Forbes, Rai, Sky, and develops outreach projects that connect science, entertainment and society.

speakers

GIANNI LETTIERI

Chairman, Atitech

Entrepreneur and manager, he is the President of Atitech, the largest independent aircraft maintenance company in Europe. Under his leadership, the company has been transformed into an international reference hub for the MRO sector.

Alessandra Todde

President, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

Engineer and manager with international experience in the energy and technology sectors, she has been President of the Region of Sardinia since 2024. She promotes policies focused on innovation, sustainability, and enhancement of the territory.

Settimo Nizzi

Mayor of Olbia and President of North-East Gallura Provincial Government

Physician and politician, formerly a Member of Parliament and Senator, he has been Mayor of Olbia since 2016 (after previous terms). He leads the city administration with a particular focus on tourism, urban development, and infrastructure.

Anna Clementina Veclani

Managing Director, Boeing Italy and Southern Europe

Manager with an international career in the aerospace sector, she heads Boeing in Italy and Southern Europe. She oversees industrial strategies and local partnerships, promoting innovation and competitiveness in the sector.

James Rial

Sales Director, Boeing Business Jets (Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa)

Expert in commercial aviation and business aviation, he is responsible for Boeing Business Jets sales across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa. He has extensive experience in market development and in building relationships with government and private clients.

Chadi Saade

President, Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ)

A long-standing Airbus executive, he is President of Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ), the division dedicated to business jets. He leads ACJ’s global strategies, focusing on innovation, connectivity, and performance, ensuring ACJ delivers a unique flying experience to its customers.

Alessandro Baviera

President, Italian Business Aviation Association (IBAA) and owner of Bizjet Aviation Services Sàrl

Alessandro Baviera is President of the Italian Business Aviation Association (IBAA) and owner of Bizjet Aviation Services Sàrl. With a long-standing background in business aviation, including leadership at Eurofly Service and experience in aircraft sales and charter operations, he represents and promotes the interests of Italian executive aviation at national and international level.

Silvio Pippobello

CEO, Geasar e Sogeaal (Olbia and Alghero Airports)

Executive with many years of experience in airport management, he is CEO of Geasar and Sogeaal, the companies managing Olbia and Alghero airports. He is committed to enhancing connectivity and promoting Sardinia’s tourism development.

Pierluigi Di Palma

President, ENAC

Jurist and expert in civil aviation, he has been President of ENAC (Italian Civil Aviation Authority) since 2021. He coordinates regulation, safety, and the sustainable development of air transport in Italy, with a strategic focus on sector competitiveness.

Pietro Pascale

Managing Director & Commercial Functions, Atitech

Manager with extensive experience in commercial and management roles, he serves as Managing Director at Atitech, contributing to the development of strategic functions and relations with key international partners.

Eugen Hartl

Founder and Managing Director, EH Aviation Advisors

Founder and Managing Director of EH Aviation Advisors, a consultancy specialized in business aviation. With a strong international background in the private aerospace sector, he advises private, corporate and Heads of State clients on complex and large VIP aircraft completion projects, from fleet planning, aircraft acquisition, completion up to entry into service.

Elizabeth Harvey

Design Director, EH Aviation Advisors and Founder, Elizabeth Harvey Design

Designer specializing in luxury interiors, she collaborates with international brands and clients to deliver exclusive projects. Her work combines contemporary aesthetics and craftsmanship, with a particular focus on private aviation and high-end residences.

Aldo Carta

President, UniOlbia and Director General, Cipnes-Gallura

Executive with long-standing experience in territorial and industrial development, he is Director General of CIPNES Gallura and President of UniOlbia. He works to strengthen the economic and educational ecosystem of northern Sardinia.

Francesco Mola

Rector, University of Cagliari

Professor of Statistics, he has been Rector of the University of Cagliari since 2021. He promotes research, innovation, and the internationalization of the university, with a strong focus on connections between academia and business.

Giacomo Cao

President, Sardinia AeroSpace District (DASS)

Engineer and university professor, he is President of DASS. He leads strategic aerospace projects, from Earth observation to space exploration, consolidating Sardinia’s role as a technological hub.

Marilisa Pischedda

Founder, ASTEC AeroSpace Technology Education Center

Entrepreneur and trainer, she founded ASTEC, a center dedicated to education and outreach in aerospace technologies. She develops innovative projects aimed at students and professionals.

Gianluigi Ascenzi

Lawyer specialized in Aviation Law

Attorney specializing in aviation and transport law, he advises airlines, operators, and institutions on regulations, compliance, and litigation in the sector.

Giuseppe Meloni

Vice President and Regional Minister for Planning and Budget, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

Economist and public administrator, he is Vice President and Regional Minister for Planning and Budget. He coordinates economic policies and public finance strategies for the sustainable development of Sardinia.

Alma Desiré Manca

Regional Minister for Labor and Training, Autonomous Region of Sardinia

Lawyer and expert in labor law, she is Regional Minister for Labor and Training. She promotes active employment policies and programs for skills development.

Paolo Nespoli

Astronaut, Aerospace Engineer and Science Communicator

Nespoli was selected by the European Space Agency in 1998 and flew three missions to the International Space Station (STS-120, MagISStra, VITA) totaling 313 days in orbit. With a background ranging from service in the Italian Special Forces to scientific and technological research, he now advocates for innovation, outreach, and international cooperation in the space sector.