Verona Backs Off: Airport Dispute Risks Brescia’s Montichiari Project
“Criticism is part of the process, but we must be careful not to harm ourselves. There’s a risk of damaging a company whose numbers reflect a healthy reality, with two airports, Verona’s Catullo and Montichiari’s D’Annunzio, growing in traffic volume.” Guido Galperti, a member of the Board of Directors of the aeroporto Catullo di Verona (Verona Catullo Airport) representing Brescia’s public capital (Province and Chamber of Commerce), voices concerns about the tensions between the Municipality of Verona and the airport company. The Verona municipality has rejected both the financial statements and the formation of the “Gabriele D’Annunzio” spa, and tensions have been running high for a month; the rattling of swords does not bode well for the future.
Concerned, Councillor Galperti? “It’s natural to be. Every initiative at this point is frozen, resulting in the loss of valuable time.” Guido Galperti knows best the pulse of the situation within the airport company. We ask him for a moment of reflection to understand what might happen in the coming weeks.
“Our intervention plans,” explains the Brescia councilor, “must first wait for Verona’s approval of the Montichiari project. Catullo has always distinguished itself by the unanimity with which decisions are made. Unanimity that is never superficial, shared on every single operation.” What has broken this unanimity? “The Verona municipality,” Galperti responds, “at the end of May assembly, voted against, I understand, due to fears that Montichiari might escape the control of the Verona-based shareholders. However, I believe Montichiari is a great opportunity if we think in terms of the Garda airport system.”
So, unfounded fears? “I remember the reasons for establishing the Gabriele D’Annunzio Spa in Montichiari. Mainly three: the need to gather additional resources through a partner who would bring financial assets; the search for an operational partner; and finally, to foster loyalty among Brescians, making them feel involved in the airport’s fate. These are the reasons, nothing more.” I hope the clarification with the Verona municipality will happen quickly, or we risk an objective weakening of the project. Will this delay the establishment of D’Annunzio spa?
“I hope it can be concluded by mid-next month. Of course, in such a situation, I understand the attitudes of those, like the Province of Brescia, who are rightfully cautious about an explosion of anti-Brescia sentiment, which has left a strong impression on me.” And what about investments and searching for the future partner? “They are also frozen, which is understandable. How can we move forward if we do not first re-establish an important relationship with Verona? If that happens quickly, making up for lost time wouldn’t be a problem.”
No pre-agreed alliances? “Verona is not keen on the involvement of Orio al Serio’s Bergamasque shareholders, which include Sea of Milan. But there is no agreement between Brescians and Bergamasques. There have been contacts, as is normal to have or discuss, but nothing more.” The only truth is that the numbers show Montichiari’s airport benefits Verona’s Catullo, rather than competing with it. I want to reiterate a point I care about: at this moment—if Galperti’s appeal from the shores of the Adige isn’t enough—it’s damaging a company whose figures demonstrate an expanding reality, both at Montichiari and Verona. Let’s try to come out of this well and quickly if we do not want to compromise the future of the Brescia project, which has every chance to succeed.” William Geroldi ©