Concerned citizens have expressed suspicion over the expansion of the Pico Airport runway, fearing the government may abandon the project due to perceived secrecy surrounding the matter.
The Group Aeroporto do Pico (GAPix) highlighted statements from Duarte Freitas, the Regional Secretary of Finance, Planning, and Public Administration, indicating that designing the 2026 budget is straightforward with no significant political choices apart from executing the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and Agenda 2030.
GAPix questions whether the runway expansion is still part of the 2030 community support framework.
GAPix claims that despite a preliminary study identifying obstacles, and a subsequent study commissioned by the Azores government and concluded in February 2025, no conclusions have been disclosed over seven months later.
The movement notes that despite a steady increase in air traffic and demand, the project remains stagnant amid successive studies, vague announcements, and unfulfilled promises.
GAPix alleges that local representatives and municipal councils aligned with the Azores government have remained silent or only engaged in symbolic gestures, failing to exert effective political pressure.
Such complacency has resulted in the island being hampered by inadequate infrastructure, leading to aircraft unable to operate at full capacity, flight cancellations, and negative impacts on passengers, airlines, and the airport’s management.
On March 21, the President of the Pico Island Council expressed satisfaction after meeting with the Regional Government, asserting that all issues in the memorandum were clarified to the councilors.
Following a meeting with the Azorean government, Rui Matos told journalists that the airport runway expansion, a major demand, is a complex and challenging process requiring numerous technical evaluations.
Matos mentioned that José Manuel Bolieiro, the head of the coalition government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) of the Azores, stated that responses will be provided once available.
