Governo está a negociar mais ligações aéreas para os Açores

Pedro Machado, the Secretary of State for Tourism, announced ongoing negotiations to increase air connections to the Azores. He expressed optimism about attracting new airlines following Ryanair's departure, which he acknowledged reduced competitiveness. Despite a 3% drop in passenger numbers and a 2.6% decrease in overnight stays from January to August 2026, spending increased by about 4%. The Azores recently won the World Travel Award for Best Adventure Destination in Europe, which Machado believes will help attract new airlines. The Chamber of Commerce in Ponta Delgada has called for concrete measures to address the decline in tourist accommodations, emphasizing the need for enhanced promotion and diversified air access.