Regional Government welcomes second rescheduling of PSO charges for air transport to Mainland Portugal and Madeira - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, conveyed today the Regional Government's satisfaction with the National Government's approval of the second reprogramming of Public Service Obligations (PSO) charges for air transport between the Azores, Mainland Portugal and Madeira.

Berta Cabral welcomed "the accomplishment of another decisive step in a process that has been awaited since 2015, one in which the National Government has shown great commitment to achieving a definitive solution."

The reprogramming now approved ensures the financing of scheduled air services under concession on the Lisbon–Faial, Lisbon–Santa Maria and Lisbon–Pico routes, as well as on the routes connecting Funchal to the islands of São Miguel and Terceira.

The public tender launched to secure these non-liberalised air links received only one proposal — submitted by the consortium SATA Internacional – Azores Airlines, S.A. and TAP – Transportes Aéreos Portugueses, S.A. This circumstance required reprogramming the expenditure for the 2026-2031 period, thereby allowing the respective award to proceed.

Berta Cabral also emphasised "that the remuneration of these Public Service Obligations creates indispensable financial conditions to contribute to the balance of the SATA Group's accounts," strengthening the sustainability of the public interest air service provided to the Region.