A press release from the Regional Secretariat highlights that, based on the information currently available, Visit Azores is actively engaged and maintaining direct and regular contact with Ryanair, thus considering the airline’s announcement today as premature.
Ryanair has announced its intention to cease all flights to the Azores from March 2026, citing high airport fees and government inaction as reasons for the decision.
The Regional Secretariat states that the announcement contradicts recent news and statements by the company’s CEO, who expressed an interest in investing in the Azores and reactivating the operational base in Ponta Delgada.
In September, Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, announced in Lisbon four new routes in Portugal for the winter season, originating from Porto, Faro, and Funchal. Reports indicate the airline, which operates bases at Portuguese airports in Porto, Lisbon, Faro, and Madeira, had already sought the reopening of the base in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel island.
The carrier had previously threatened to discontinue routes from the Azores, which connect Lisbon and Porto to the islands of São Miguel and Terceira, and reduced the number of flights on these routes in 2023.
The Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructures remains optimistic about the work being done by Visit Azores, acknowledging that a complex interaction process involving several entities is underway.
The Azorean government states that issues allegedly related to airport fees and emissions trading systems are not within the region’s control, as has been the case in past situations.
The president of Visit Azores, responsible for the Azores’ tourism promotion, labeled Ryanair’s announcement as “a negotiating tactic,” and pointed out that the process is not “completely concluded.”
“We are unfortunately accustomed to this type of communication from Ryanair, as it is their way of exerting negotiation pressure during discussions in the regions where they operate,” stated Luís Capdeville Botelho to the Lusa news agency.
