Azores government attributes air constraints to lack of 'slots' at Lisbon airport

The Secretary of Tourism for the Azores, Berta Cabral, highlighted the impact of limited flight slots at Lisbon Airport on tourism, particularly affecting the Azores after Ryanair ceased operations. She emphasized the need for increased slots to improve accessibility and mentioned efforts made to address this issue with various authorities. Despite a decline in external visitors, she noted the importance of international markets and announced new routes for 2027. Cabral acknowledged rising airfare costs and the need for sustainable tourism growth, while local officials stressed the importance of rural tourism for economic recovery. The regional government plans to invest in tourism promotion to counteract declining visitor numbers.