Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, Sept. 19, 2025 (Lusa) - The regional government of the Portuguese Azores Islands said on Friday that it was "very pleased" to hear the news about Ryanair's interest in reopening its base in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel.
"The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure welcomed with great pleasure the news reported by the media on Thursday, announcing Ryanair's interest in reopening its base in Ponta Delgada," the regional executive said in a statement released today.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary announced on Thursday in Lisbon four new routes in Portugal for the winter (originating in Porto, Faro and Funchal) and, according to some reports, the company - which has four bases at Portuguese airports (Porto, Lisbon, Faro and Madeira) - has already requested the reopening of the air base in Ponta Delgada but has not yet received a response.
The Azorean government welcomes Ryanair's "position and interest" in reopening the base on the island of São Miguel and is willing "to collaborate in the development of the process which, according to public information, is being carried out by the national government authorities".
"It is recognised that these investment decisions and the underlying processes are complex and depend on various factors, involving different legal requirements and coordination between various entities, including the mainland Government, the Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) and ANA Airports (the country's airports managing company)," the note stresses.
However, the Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Azores, headed by Berta Cabral, considers that Ryanair's intention "is a clear sign of the attractiveness and potential of the Azores as a tourist destination and a region where it is positive to invest."
The statements by Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary, reproduced in the media, also demonstrate the validity of the arguments highlighted by the regional government of the Azores in 2023, which was clearly against the closure of the base in Ponta Delgada and always argued that there were excellent conditions for the operation structured at that time," it added.
For the Azorean executive, these statements "further reinforce the veracity of the information that has been disclosed by the regional government of the Azores regarding the various factors that were under discussion during the long process of interaction and conversation with Ryanair, with a view to maintaining the company's operation in the region."
In October 2023, the airline closed its base of operations in Ponta Delgada, which had been in operation since 2015, and reduced its flight connections in winter.
In August 2023, the head of the regional government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, stated that the executive "did what it had to do" to maintain Ryanair's operations in the archipelago.
The following month, the low-cost airline criticised ANA's proposal to increase airport charges for 2024 and threatened to close its base in Madeira if costs were not reduced.
In a statement, the carrier said that ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal, operated by France's Vinci, "is trying to increase fees excessively and unjustifiably across the country, including Lisbon (+18%), Porto (+13%), Faro (+12%), the Azores (+8%) and Madeira (+9%)", warning that this will have "a very negative impact on connectivity, tourism and employment in Portugal, particularly in the island economies".
For Ryanair, this increase "is exactly the opposite of what Portuguese airports need", particularly "those in Madeira and the Azores, which depend on low airport charges to boost" connectivity and tourism, noting that "it has already been forced to close its base in the Azores following previous ANA charge increases".
ASR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
