Berta Cabral welcomes Austrian Airlines' direct link between Vienna and Ponta Delgada in 2026 - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures welcomed today the announcement of Austrian Airlines' direct link between Vienna and Ponta Delgada starting in June next year.

Austrian Airlines will open the new route on June 30 and will continue to operate it until September 8, 2026, with flights scheduled once a week, connecting Ponta Delgada to the Austrian capital.

According to Berta Cabral, from the next high season onwards, there will be around half a dozen airlines flying to and from the Region, which is "a clear sign that the Azores are undoubtedly a destination of choice."

She continued: "The growth of the sector in recent years is mainly due to the nature, sustainability and authenticity of each of the nine islands in the archipelago. We will have around 15 airlines operating to the Azores in the next high season, linking the Region to various national and international markets.

“Increased international connectivity is a win-win situation, which we will continue to build on. We also intend to promote the extension of flight schedules, with a view to mitigating seasonal fluctuations in tourism and seizing the potentialities of SATA Air Açores' inter-island operations. Our goal is to have tourism all year round on all islands,” she added.

“Our natural environment, both on land and at sea, and our human nature allow us to create and offer a unique product. On each of our nine islands, there are countless experiences to discover and enjoy, each with its own specific characteristics,” she continued.

However, the Regional Secretary pointed out that revenue growth is higher than the growth in the number of overnight stays: “We are growing more in value and quality than in quantity. This is an indicator of the destination’s sustainability.”

This sector is, in fact, as the government official stated, "one of the most important in the regional economy, with the potential to leverage all others across the board. It contributes to more than €1 billion in wealth generated on the nine islands, representing about 20% of regional GVA, 17% of GDP and 17% of employment."

"The success and growth of tourism in the Azores continue to evolve sustainably, with the growth in overnight stays being permanently surpassed by the growth in revenue, and that is what creates value," she stressed.

Berta Cabral also noted that the Regional Government "continues working to reduce seasonality and create conditions for airlines to progressively expand their operations to the mid and low seasons."