Ponta Delgada, Azores Islands, Portugal, Jan. 20, 2026 (Lusa) - Portugal's Azores Islands' regional airline, SATA, on Tuesday launched the "Azores Mission" to prioritise the reinforcement of flights from the archipelago to the mainland in the summer and discontinue routes that "performed less well", planning to operate 800 weekly flights to and from the region.
In the document on SATA's IATA Summer Operation 2026, to which the Lusa agency had access, the Azorean aviation group states that the programme of the two companies in the group for the high season will be "focused, above all, on strengthening connections between mainland Portugal and the Azores", in addition to maintaining "consistent connections to North America".
According to SATA's management, the "planning prioritises the efficient use of resources, ensuring a sustainable operation based on complementary services" between Azores Airlines (which connects the region to the outside world) and SATA Air Açores (responsible for inter-island flights).
The two airlines will provide "more than 800 flights per week originating/terminating" in the archipelago, as defined in the document, highlighting increased connections between Ponta Delgada/Lisbon, Lisbon/Terceira, and Porto/Ponta Delgada.
"In order to concentrate capacity on the most popular routes, the group will not resume routes that have performed less well, directing resources to the domestic market. With regard to inter-island connections, the service will be similar to that of summer 2025, with occasional reinforcements on routes that traditionally have occupancy rates of over 90%," summarises the management.
From 29 March to 31 October, Azores Airlines will operate around 270 weekly flights to and from the Azores, on 20 routes, using nine aircraft, with "75% of capacity dedicated to the domestic market".
SATA will not resume the Ponta Delgada/Milan and Ponta Delgada/Bilbao routes, but will maintain the annual connections from Ponta Delgada to Paris and Barcelona and resume the seasonal connection with Frankfurt.
According to the operation, under SATA's new management, North America will be a "strategic market", with the same number of flights to Boston, Toronto, New York, and Montreal.
SATA Air Açores, which plans to add another Bombardier Q400 aircraft from June, will operate 16 routes with seven aircraft and increase flights from Ponta Delgada to Pico, Horta and Flores "due to high occupancy rates" in 2025.
SATA's board of directors also emphasises that there are no plans to use ACMI (aircraft leasing with crew) during the high season, as this is a situation that can only "occur to mitigate operational irregularities and ensure the continuity of air transport services in the region".
SATA's summer schedule will be presented today at a press conference in Ponta Delgada.
Tiago Santos took over as chairman of SATA's board of directors on 1 January, following the resignation of Rui Coutinho in December.
The change in SATA's management comes at a time when the privatisation process of Azores Airlines is underway.
RPYP/AYLS // ADB.
Lusa
