Horta, Portugal, Nov. 7, 2025 (Lusa) - The regional secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructure of the Azores said on Friday that the regional government will do everything in its power to save regional airline SATA and, if the privatisation of Azores Airlines fails, will act to guarantee mobility.
"We [the Regional Government] want to keep SATA International [Azores Airlines] and that's why we're in this process, imposed by the European Commission, due to the management that has led it to a state where it can't continue to exist. And those responsible are undoubtedly the governments up to 2020. Not just now," said Berta Cabral.
She was speaking at the specialised standing committee on the Economy, in Horta, about the Azorean Plan and Budget for 2026, which will be discussed and voted on this month, said that "an absolutely critical situation of management over dozens and dozens of years is coming to light".
"The European Commission imposed this solution. The alternative was much worse. Therefore, we want to save the company, to keep the company in business in the Azores, because we think that's important, and we're going to do everything in our power to make that happen," said Berta Cabral, in response to BE MP António Lima.
When asked what measures the regional government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) has in place to safeguard the mobility of Azoreans if the privatisation process fails, Cabral replied that they had to wait for the outcome.
"If something doesn't happen as we hope, then we will act accordingly to restore the mobility of Azoreans, to guarantee normal economic activity in the region and also to ensure a sector of activity such as tourism," she said.
She continued: "We're paying attention. That's what managing is all about. Managing isn't about predicting everything or anticipating actions. It's progressively, as circumstances require, taking the measures and developing the actions deemed most appropriate."
In Berta Cabral's opinion, "there's no point in dramatising", pointing out that Madeira, with its high tourist demand, has no airline.
"And there are plenty of island regions around the world that don't have airlines to carry their tourists. There's always a solution when you're in a market economy," she emphasised, claiming that the market "always has a way of reorganising itself and creating equilibrium situations".
"What's in the specifications [for the privatisation of Azores Airlines] ensures mobility. Everything else will, of course, be normal and natural, as it is in all other island regions that don't have airlines," he said.
The regional secretary for finance, Duarte Freitas, also said today that "no one can yet tell" what the path of the SATA group will be if the privatisation process for Azores Airlines fails.
Asked by the BE member of the regional legislative assembly's parliamentary committee on the economy whether there is a defined strategy if the privatisation fails, Duarte Freitas said that "nobody can yet see what the path will be".
"None of us wants to think that all the privatisation efforts fail," he stressed.
At the moment, the privatisation of Azores Airlines is being negotiated with the Newtour/MS Aviation consortium, and the regional government has acknowledged the possibility of a private negotiation or the company's closure if an agreement cannot be reached.
The regional government revealed on 31 October that the chairman of the privatisation tender jury had postponed the deadline for the consortium to submit a "firm proposal" to 10 November.
In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese state aid to support the restructuring of the airline, amounting to €453.25 million in state loans and guarantees, providing for measures such as a reorganisation of the structure and the divestment of a controlling stake (51%).
ASR/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
