The Azorean public airline reported a disruption caused by a strike by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) workers, leading to the cancellation of 42 flights on Friday. Approximately 3,000 passengers were affected.
About 500 passengers were accommodated on extraordinary flights carried out by the airline by 12:00 local time (13:00 in Lisbon) today, while around 900 were rescheduled on extra flights operating between 12:00 and 19:00 local time.
Approximately 500 passengers were booked on extraordinary flights to be conducted after 19:00 local time today, with an additional 800 rescheduled on regular flights planned for today.
The remaining 300 passengers have been rebooked on flights scheduled for tomorrow, August 17.
SATA Air Açores, responsible for inter-island connections, indicated the entire scheduled operation for today includes 101 inter-island flights.
The flight cancellations, caused by the IPMA workers’ strike on Friday, significantly disrupted mobility across the Azores archipelago.
The airline expressed surprise at the non-fulfillment of agreed minimum services, resulting in serious operational constraints and hindering essential public service obligations.
SATA’s management seeks compensation for the losses incurred due to the strike and the failure to uphold minimum services.
On August 8, the IPMA presidency assured SATA’s administration that minimum services would be upheld, but this assurance was not realized.
The situation is particularly serious, not only due to non-compliance but also because it prevented the airline from adopting adequate preventive measures. The IPMA did not inform in a timely manner that minimum services would not be effectively carried out.
SATA Air Açores apologizes for the inconvenience caused to passengers whose travel plans were altered.
