The stance, announced in a joint statement by the Commission, the representative unions of Sata Air Açores (SNPVAC, SINTAC, SITAVA, SPAC, and SITEMA), and the workers’ representative on the board, was issued urgently following a meeting.
The workers’ representatives argue that “a high-risk decision detrimental to the interests of the company and the region” is at stake, emphasizing that Sata Air Açores has “always stood out for its rigorous control over its operations,” particularly through maintaining ‘self-handling’.
The workers and unions advocate for maintaining internal ‘handling’, claiming it ensures direct operational control, greater flexibility, long-term cost reduction, speed, and less dependency on third parties. They express regret that the Regional Government “continues to not understand the long-term implications of this decision” and the necessity of “preserving ‘self-handling’ as a strategic pillar of Sata Air Açores’ operations”.
The Vice President of the Regional Executive (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM), Artur Lima, stated on Thursday, during the reading of the Government Council’s communiqué, that a resolution was approved “to carry out the necessary actions for the separation of the economic unit responsible for ground assistance services (‘handling’) and its allocation to SATA Holding, S.A., created within the scope of the SATA group’s corporate reorganization process”.
Artur Lima explained that SATA Holding must now create the ‘handling’ company “so it can later be privatized”.
In the joint statement, the workers and unions assert that it is “false to claim that Sata Air Açores’ ‘handling’ service incurs losses”.
“Handing over a core area of the company to any private entity will deprive SATA and the region of the possibility to obtain necessary revenues for the operation,” they argue.
They also point to a shortage of maintenance personnel, the degradation of airport infrastructure, and “irregular maintenance schedules”.
“Sata Air Açores is facing serious challenges with regards to the maintenance of its fleet. The acquisition of new aircraft is not being matched by adequate expansion of human resources in the maintenance area […],” they note.
Workers, unions, and the workers’ representative on the SATA board also raise questions about the new loan of 110 million euros granted to the company.
“The new loan of 110 million euros, approved with the backing of the European Union, the Regional Government, and the main opposition parties, was an essential measure for the company’s recovery. However, some questions remain: why did the first bailout fail if the assumptions were identical? Who will take responsibility for this loan if the sale of Azores Airlines does not materialize?” they question.
Furthermore, “this loan, which will be partially used for cash flow issues, places a significant burden on the region’s taxpayers, especially if the privatization process does not succeed,” they warn, demanding that decisions be made “transparently and responsibly,” based on “a thorough analysis of Sata Air Açores’ real needs and those of the region”.
