The Secretary of the Azores has expressed surprise at Ryanair’s announcement that it intends to cease all flights to the Azores from March 2026. The Regional Secretary stated that the news was premature, noting that Visit Azores is actively engaged in ongoing discussions with the airline.
Ryanair cited high airport fees and what it described as “government inaction” as reasons for its decision. This announcement counters recent remarks by the company’s CEO, who indicated an interest in investing in the region and reactivating the operational base in Ponta Delgada.
In September, Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair, revealed in Lisbon that new routes would be launched for the winter from Porto, Faro, and Funchal. The airline, which operates four bases in Portugal (Porto, Lisbon, Faro, and Madeira), had previously requested the reopening of the Ponta Delgada base on São Miguel island.
The airline had previously threatened to withdraw its routes connecting Lisbon and Porto with the islands of São Miguel and Terceira. This year, Ryanair reduced flights on these routes.
The Azorean Regional Secretariat for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructure remains optimistic about the ongoing efforts by Visit Azores, acknowledging a complex process involving multiple stakeholders.
The Azorean Government noted that the issues related to airport charges and ETS are not unique to the region. The president of Visit Azores, tasked with promoting tourism in the Azores, described Ryanair’s announcement as a “negotiating tactic,” stressing that the situation remains unresolved.
“We have become accustomed to this type of communication from Ryanair. It is part of how they negotiate in the regions they operate,” stated Luís Capdeville Botelho to the Lusa news agency.
