Italy to rename Airport in Honor of Aga Khan IV

27.02.2025 08:05

Officials in the city of Olbia, Italy, have proposed renaming the city’s airport in honor of Shah Karim al-Husayni, the late Aga Khan IV, leader of the Ismaili Shia Muslims. The proposal, presented to Italian transport authorities, suggests that the airport’s name be changed to “Olbia-Costa Smeralda-Shah Karim Aga Khan IV Airport” in recognition of the Aga Khan’s contributions to the development of the Sardinia region.

Aga Khan IV, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Shia Muslims, passed away on February 4, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, at the age of 88. He led the Ismaili community for 67 years and played a prominent role in improving the lives of millions through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). His network’s activities in over 30 countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Africa, and the Middle East, focused on education, healthcare, and economic development.

In Sardinia, Aga Khan IV was a key figure in tourism development since the 1960s. He transformed the previously unknown Costa Smeralda region into one of the world’s most important tourist destinations. He also founded the Alisarda airline, which later became Air Italy, playing a vital role in connecting the region and expanding Olbia Airport into an international hub.

A view of Costa Smeralda, a beach in Sardinia, Italy, developed by Shah Karim Aga Khan IV for tourism and sailing.

The proposal to rename the airport, led by Olbia’s mayor, Settimo Nizzi, was approved by the city council and is now awaiting review by Italian transport authorities and the civil aviation organization. Local officials view this action as a sign of appreciation for Aga Khan IV’s contribution to the region’s economic growth and sustainable development. The original naming of Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport decades ago acknowledged his influence, and this new change represents an official recognition of his impact on this international transportation center.

Aga Khan IV was buried on February 9, 2025, in Aswan, Egypt, beside the tomb of his grandfather, Aga Khan III, in a location he had chosen himself along the Nile River. The private funeral ceremony, attended by family members and senior Ismaili leaders, was followed by a public memorial on February 8 in Lisbon at the Ismaili Centre, where international leaders, including those from Pakistan, Canada, and Kenya, praised his contributions to global development and humanitarian work.

Prince Karim Aga Khan IV next to a model of the “Costa Smeralda” development project on the island of Sardinia, Italy; a plan that represented his vision for boosting tourism in the region during the 1960s.

Following his passing, Prince Rahim al-Husayni, his eldest son, was introduced as Aga Khan V and the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismailis. Born on October 12, 1971, in Geneva, Switzerland, and educated at Brown University in the United States, he has played a key role in the Aga Khan Development Network, particularly in economic and environmental development. On February 11, 2025, in Lisbon, he formally assumed leadership of the Ismaili community during a special ceremony and pledged to continue his father’s path of service and global development.

The proposal to rename Olbia Airport is still under review, and no specific date for its final approval has been set. If approved, the change will serve as a lasting symbol of Aga Khan IV’s impact on the development of Sardinia, while Aga Khan V continues his legacy on a global scale.

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