EasyJet has stated it constantly monitors market opportunities and operational developments across all the regions it operates or may consider in the future, in response to the announcement by Ryanair to cancel all flights to the archipelago starting March 29, 2026.
However, easyJet has no plans to return to the Azores in the short or medium term.
The low-cost airline, which ceased operations to the archipelago in 2017, clarified that strategic decisions are based on a thorough market analysis, economic viability, and alignment with global strategy, rather than movements by other airlines.
EasyJet was the first low-cost airline to enter the Azores in 2015 following the liberalization of air connections between two islands of the archipelago and mainland Portugal.
When the departure was announced two years later, easyJet’s general manager, José Lopes, explained that the airline couldn’t maintain a minimum quality offer in that market.
“We didn’t leave because Ponta Delgada’s traffic was decreasing—it was growing—but under our circumstances, we couldn’t offer what we wanted, which was at least two daily flights. Since we didn’t have this capacity, we chose to withdraw and convert these routes into daily routes [to other destinations],” stated José Lopes.
Ryanair announced today that it will cancel all flights to/from the Azores starting March 29, 2026, citing high airport charges set by the French airport monopoly ANA and the inaction of the Portuguese Government. The low-cost airline highlighted the increase in air navigation charges by 120% post-Covid and the introduction of a two-euro travel charge, at a time when other European Union states are abolishing travel fees to ensure scarce capacity growth.
The Portuguese Government and the airport concessionaire expressed surprise at Ryanair’s statements.
The Ministry of Infrastructure argued that the route tax applied to the Azores is the lowest in Europe and that the terminal tax is among the most reduced.
