​Berta Cabral says Regional Government is working diligently and responsibly to set up Air Routes Fund - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, reiterated today that the Regional Government is developing the process to create the Air Route Fund for the Autonomous Region of the Azores with technical rigour, institutional responsibility and strategic vision. She emphasised that this is a complex matter requiring solid preparation and compliance with various national and European legal and regulatory requirements.

Following the approval of the respective decree, a multidisciplinary working group was established, led by the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures. The group includes representatives from the Regional Directorate for Tourism, the Regional Directorate for Mobility, Visit Azores, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ponta Delgada and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angra do Heroísmo, while receiving technical support from ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal (national airport authority). Within this framework, the process of analysing and defining the model that best suits the Azorean reality is currently underway.

​The working group has already held three technical meetings, with a new meeting scheduled for later this month to further structure the model and consolidate the work developed to date.

​Berta Cabral stressed that the Route Fund was created just two months ago, a period during which it was possible to mobilise the relevant entities, collect specialised contributions and begin the preparation of the technical structure necessary for its implementation.

​“We are working in a serious, competent and well-founded manner to build an effective, legally solid instrument that is fully compatible with the European legal framework. Our goal is to create a mechanism that produces tangible, sustainable and lasting results for the Azores,” she stated.

​The government official highlighted that establishing this instrument requires an in-depth technical, financial and legal assessment, as well as ongoing coordination with applicable European rules on competition and State aid.

​“We are preparing a credible and consistent model capable of passing all the validation stages required by European institutions. The success of a Route Fund depends on the quality of the preparatory work and its compliance with applicable legal requirements,” she underscored.

​Berta Cabral also recalled that during the debate at the Azorean Parliament, it was made clear—at the insistence of the Liberal Initiative party —that processes of this kind are not built overnight. It was noted at the time that the model implemented in the Canaries took about two years to become fully operational, demonstrating the technical, legal and administrative demands associated with creating instruments of this size.

​“No one can demand that a fund approved just two months ago present immediate results. What Azoreans expect from public officials is serious work, rigorous preparation and lasting solutions, not hasty announcements or unrealistic expectations,” she stated.

​She added: “On a matter so relevant to the regional economy, it is important to distinguish between those who seek to build solutions and those who merely offer criticism. Saying is easy. Governing responsibly involves studying, preparing, negotiating and complying with the law. This Government is focused on doing the necessary work so that the Route Fund becomes an effective and long-lasting instrument.”

​Berta Cabral further recalled that, over the years, when airlines such as EasyJet ceased operations and Delta Air Lines discontinued its connections to the Region, no structured instrument was created to attract routes.

​“It is worth asking why a Route Fund was not created then? The answers to those challenges went unprovided for many years. This Government chose to take action and build a structural solution for the future rather than continuing merely to debate the problem,” she stressed.

​The government official also expressed regret that certain political forces are now demanding immediate results for an instrument whose creation they did not promote when they held governmental responsibilities.

“It is legitimate to scrutinise and question. What is no longer acceptable is ignoring the complexity of the processes, forgetting what was not done in the past, and attempting to turn a normal phase of technical preparation into a matter of political controversy. Azoreans know very well how to distinguish between rhetoric and serious work,” she maintained.

​“The Route Fund can and should represent a strategic tool to bolster air connectivity, encourage new connections, boost the competitiveness of the Azores as a destination, and create more opportunities for Azoreans and regional businesses. We are working with methodology, competence and a sense of responsibility so that this instrument rests on solid foundations and delivers the expected results. This is the Government’s commitment,” she added.

​According to the government official, this is “a process with a particularly demanding legal framework, which will still have to go through several development and validation phases, culminating in its presentation to the European Commission,” she concluded.