Regional Government and SATA Air Açores in coordination to increase inter-island flights to Pico and Faial - Communication

Secretaria Regional do Turismo, Mobilidade e Infraestruturas

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures informs that, in coordination with SATA Air Açores, there will be an increase in inter-island operations on the Ponta Delgada - Pico - Ponta Delgada route and Ponta Delgada - Horta - Ponta Delgada route, as a result of the demand monitored under the Regular Air Transport Service Concession Agreement for flights within the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The demand for these routes has been above expectations and above that recorded in the 2021/22 IATA winter season. In view of continuous monitoring of the operation and demand, this trend is expected to continue, which will be reflected in an increase of three weekly PDL-PIX-PDL flights and two weekly frequencies PDL-HOR-PDL flights, from January 3 until the end of the 2022/23 IATA winter season.

As for the PDL-PIX-PDL route, consisting of 36 rotations in that period, the flights will be operated on Dash Q200 aircraft on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. In turn, for the route PDL-HOR-PDL, consisting of a total of 24 rotations, the flights will be operated on Dash Q400 aircraft on Wednesdays (12 rotations) and on Saturdays (12 rotations).

The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, reaffirms "the commitment to respond rationally to the demands of all islands, without exception, and to respond diligently to market needs."

"This increase in demand is also due to the success of the "Azores Fare" and even to the positive development of tourism on our islands," stressed Berta Cabral.

The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures and SATA Air Açores will constantly monitor demand and market behaviour, so as to anticipate and provide an adequate response to identified needs in accordance with properly drawn up plans.