Aeroporti di Puglia hosts ON CLOUD NINE+ Project Final Conference on 31 July 2025. Co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg IPA South Adriatic program, the project served as a unique platform to share significant progress, innovative solutions, and valuable experiences gained throughout its duration.
The day began with welcoming remarks from Debora Ciliento, Regional Councillor for Transport and Mobility of the Puglia Region; Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia; Marco Catamerò, General Director of Aeroporti di Puglia; and Claudio Polignano, Director of the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Managing Authority. Their speeches underscored the ambitious vision and objectives guiding the Puglia Region in the fields of mobility and air transport—principles at the heart of the ON CLOUD NINE+ project.
“The ON CLOUD NINE+ project is important because it aims to shorten distances with Albania and Montenegro and build international bridges,” stated Debora Ciliento, Regional Councillor for Transport and Sustainable Mobility. “With the goal of creating more sustainable and inclusive air connectivity, the project embraces sustainability in its broadest sense: environmental, social, economic, and cultural. Aeroporti di Puglia and the Region have addressed the key issue of environmental sustainability in air transport in recent years, and this project allows us to take further steps forward—together with Albania and Montenegro—making them ever closer and more connected to Puglia.”
“We are very pleased with the results achieved by the ON CLOUD NINE+ project,” declared Antonio Maria Vasile, President of Aeroporti di Puglia. “I want to thank Regional Councillor Debora Ciliento, Dr. Claudio Polignano of the Interreg Managing Authority, Montenegro Airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Albania, our project partners, and the Aeroporti di Puglia team for their expertise and dedication throughout all phases of the project. They tackled issues that are highly relevant to air transport.
Advanced mobility, innovation, and sustainability are emerging challenges that require a shift from traditional perspectives, which are no longer adequate for the evolving needs of transportation. Sharing experiences and innovative solutions to address changes driven by technology—particularly in sustainability and digitalization—will greatly impact the 'passenger experience' and become key enablers of the new air transport model.
I also want to highlight another essential aspect linked to this and similar projects in which Aeroporti di Puglia has always played a leading role: the creation of a network of human relationships and a sense of 'community' with colleagues from airports in nearby countries—geographically and culturally. This is a journey of innovation, friendship, and development rooted in our shared past, which we aim to strengthen further in the coming years to ensure sustainable growth for future generations.”
The core of the morning was dedicated to presenting the project’s tangible results and implemented solutions. Representatives from partner organizations—including Miloš Janković and Nataša Kovačević from Montenegro Airports; Milica Micunović from the Ministry of Transport of Montenegro; Krista Garo, Redi Bucka, and Nerela Ndraxhi from the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority; and Patrizio Summa, Special Projects Director at Aeroporti di Puglia—provided in-depth insights into the current status and future perspectives of the aviation sector.
The session offered a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced and solutions shared during the project’s 18-month implementation, highlighting best practices and valuable lessons learned. The discussion focused on complementary aspects of the air transport system, including environmental sustainability, passenger safety and regulatory frameworks, tourism, technological and digital innovation, and connectivity in remote areas. A dynamic Q&A session encouraged active participation, fostering fruitful exchanges among stakeholders and partners, and shifting the spotlight to the project’s future potential and replicability in other regions.
The day concluded with a guided visit to the operational areas of Bari Karol Wojtyła Airport—including the new ramp office, the renovated Central Operations Unit, and the modern Control Room. This tour gave participants a firsthand look at the technological and infrastructural upgrades underway across the Bari and broader Apulian airport network.
The final conference not only celebrated the achievements of the ON CLOUD NINE+ project but also reaffirmed the commitment of Aeroporti di Puglia and its partners to promoting innovation and cross-border cooperation for the sustainable development of the aviation sector across the Adriatic region.