The ground handling services provided by SATA at airports in the Azores cost 35.3 million euros in 2025, an increase of 15.8 million compared to 2021, according to the Regional Government of the Azores. The executive confirmed that the unit, which employs 667 workers across the archipelago, is set to be fully privatised, with the first step involving the establishment of SATA Handling as an autonomous entity. Despite the rising costs and reported negative operational results when valued at market rates, the government stated that terms for the privatisation are still being defined and that worker safeguards will be included in the process.