Latest news and stories about aviation in travel in Azores, Portugal for expats and residents.
A TAP Air Portugal flight en route to Boston was forced to divert to the Azores following an emergency declaration, marking the airline's third technical incident in one week.
A SATA flight from Ponta Delgada to Toronto performed an emergency landing on Terceira Island following reports of smoke in the cabin, resulting in six passengers being hospitalised for smoke inhalation.
The privatisation jury for Azores Airlines has recommended rejecting the Atlantic Connect Group's sole admitted bid — an offer of €17 million for 85% of Azores Airlines' share capital — on the grounds that it does not safeguard the interests of SATA and the Azores region. SATA said it is analysing the panel's recommendation.
Alberto Mota Borges compares the Azores to Billund in Denmark, from where the same airline also departed, and argues that it is time to stop discussing the problem and start moving towards solutions. “It is not the first time this airline has abandoned a destination,” he stresses.
The Azores Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure, Berta Cabral, cited the lack of take-off and landing slots at Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport as the primary cause for reduced accessibility to the archipelago. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Casas Açorianas association, she addressed the decline in visitor numbers following Ryanair's departure, acknowledged concerns regarding high airfare prices, and outlined government plans to invest 17.2 million euros in tourism promotion while encouraging operators to create integrated travel packages.
The company stated that the Azores Airlines operation 'proceeded normally', with 'all scheduled flights completed'.
SATA's administration has invited five bidders for the privatisation of Azores Airlines to submit binding offers by December 9, at which point the candidate entities will be disclosed, the Azorean aviation group announced today. The five candidates who had made non-binding offers for the privatisation of Azores Airlines were invited by SATA...
The SATA board has invited five bidders in the Azores Airlines privatisation to submit binding offers by December 9, at which time the names of the candidates will be disclosed, the Azorean aviation group announced this Wednesday. SATA noted that the decision follows the assessment of non-binding offers received previously. The privatisation tender involves the sale of at least 75% of the airline and includes a 30-month prohibition on job cuts and collective redundancies. The process must be concluded by the end of the year under the restructuring plan approved by the European Commission.
The strike will take place from 21 to 27 October in the morning (07:30 to 10:30 local time) and from 28 October to 3 November in the afternoon (16:00 to 19:00).
SITAVA and SINTAC call for a stoppage and cite confirmation from the European Commission that the 100% divestment was a choice by Portugal, not an imposition.
SITAVA and SINTAC have issued a strike notice for SATA Handling staff from October 21 to November 3, opposing the Azores Government's plan to sell the entire ground handling service. The unions claim the decision to sell the company is a political choice by the Portuguese authorities, rather than an obligation imposed by the European Commission, and they are demanding job security and the preservation of the public air transport service. The strike will take place in two phases with specific daily time slots across all company facilities.
Unions representing SATA ground handling staff have announced plans for multiple strike periods to defend the regional airline's integrity, challenging the Regional Government's claims regarding the privatization process. The unions, SITAVA and SINTAC, state that the European Commission has clarified in writing that the sale of ground handling services was a decision by the Portuguese authorities, not a requirement from Brussels. They argue that privatizing these services while maintaining SATA Air Açores as a Service of General Economic Interest (SGEI) creates a financial risk, as the airline will become a captive client of a private operator, potentially leading to increased costs and reduced operational stability in the Azores.
For the Azorean executive, the new route represents a “unique opportunity” to bring the North American market closer to the islands of the Central Group. The American airline already operated flights to São Miguel.
The operation, scheduled to run from 9 June to 5 September 2027, includes three weekly flights using a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
The low-cost airline already connects Brussels to Faro and has announced a route to Porto starting in December. The third connection from Brussels to national territory will be to Ponta Delgada.
The Azores government must make the return of low-cost airlines an urgent priority as tourism continues to decline following Ryanair’s withdrawal from the archipelago, the regional Socialist Party has said. The post Azores tourism woes: low-cost airlines must return — PS appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The PS criticised the Government's lack of strategy in the tourism sector: overnight stays in tourist accommodation have decreased for the ninth consecutive time. The “end of Ryanair's operation” was a “very serious mistake”.
Pico airfield will become a regional alternative starting in December 2026. The measure follows episodes of intense fog that disrupted inter-island flights.
A warning of possible overheating led the captain of a TAP aircraft to divert to Lajes. José Correia Guedes explains why, when there are doubts about safety, the priority is to land and inspect the aircraft. The commentator also addresses concerns regarding the recent incidents involving TAP aircraft.
The landing occurred due to a technical fault, according to the airline. On Saturday, another TAP flight that took off bound for Curitiba returned to Lisbon due to a technical issue.
The unplanned landing in the Azores archipelago resulted from the need to “assess a technical issue” as a “precautionary measure”. TAP states that the flight should head to its original destination “as soon as possible”.
Home News Azores to update airport fees Azores to update airport fees The adjustment of airport fees at aerodromes and airports under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous Region of the Azores will have no impact on passengers or tourism, as SATA Air Açores will absorb the increases associated with
Tourism in the Azores has now declined for nine consecutive months, with regional businesses warning that the loss of flights and airline competition — including Ryanair’s complete withdrawal from the The post Azores tourism falls for 9th month amid fallout from Ryanair withdrawal appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The PS Azores wants to promote the creation of the Azores Air Route Development Fund to support new direct air routes to the region and mitigate the effects of the decline in tourism.
A flight carrying 140 passengers was forced to perform an emergency landing at Lajes Airport due to the presence of fumes on board.
Flight SA323 departed from João Paulo II International Airport at 18:23 and was bound for Toronto.
New flight “opens for the first time a direct door to the Austrian market, which has high potential and a great affinity with the region's value proposition as a destination for nature, authenticity, and sustainability”
The airline reports that it will integrate a leased aircraft into its fleet to 'ensure the fulfillment of the flight schedule planned for the period of highest demand'.
SATA is adjusting its operations to 'strengthen response capacity' by using ACMI (aircraft lease with crew), after having approximately 175 flights affected by fog.
