The Vice-President of the Azorean regional executive coalition, Artur Lima, announced that a resolution was approved today in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island. The decision involves taking necessary actions to separate the economic unit responsible for ground handling services and integrate it into SATA Holding, S.A., formed during the SATA group’s corporate reorganization.
The Azorean government stated that this measure is part of SATA’s restructuring plan, approved by the European Commission on June 7, 2022, mandating the separation of this economic unit to make it available for sale.
Artur Lima informed the press that it is now necessary for SATA Holding to establish the handling company “so that it can subsequently be privatized.”
“The instructions have been given to SATA Holding to create this handling company, which will ultimately be privatized. The SATA board will then proceed with the necessary steps towards privatization, thereby fulfilling our commitment to the European Union,” he stated.
Artur Lima emphasized that this is the “first step towards the privatization of SATA’s handling” operations.
Regarding expectations for the privatization process, the manager expressed confidence that “everything has the potential to go well,” highlighting that it results mainly from the European Union’s requirements and the government’s commitment to the EU.
“As a unique company operating in all nine airports [in the Azores], I believe everything has the potential to succeed,” he concluded.
Artur Lima also mentioned that the Azorean regional executive approved the Incentive Program for Attracting New Air Routes, which applies to the implementation of new regular air transport routes at the Lajes Civil Air Terminal on Terceira Island.
“Exemption or reduction of traffic charges (passenger fees) can serve as a significant stimulus tool for the implementation and consolidation of new air routes, enhancing Terceira Island’s external connectivity, promoting mobility, regional cohesion, and the area’s economic competitiveness,” according to the Government Council’s statement.
The statement noted that “in this context, aiming to attract and retain new regular passenger air transport routes originating or destined for Lajes Civil Air Terminal, it is essential to establish a specific incentive program based on phased applications of passenger fee reductions, according to objective eligibility and operational conditions.”
Artur Lima explained that Lajes airport, managed by the Azorean government, was the only one in the region without route attraction incentives, and these incentives were necessary “to ensure that airlines can also fly to Terceira under the same conditions as they fly to other airports.”
The Regional Government also approved the Roadmap for Carbon Neutrality in the Azores, aiming for the region’s economy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and the resolution establishing the Mission Structure for Monitoring the Implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, “ensuring its success and positive impacts on Azorean society and economy.”
