The consortium led by Victorair, expressing interest in the purchase of the Azorean airline, has urged the SATA Holding management to voluntarily submit the ongoing privatization process for prior review by the Court of Auditors. The consortium emphasized the importance of ensuring the legality and regularity of the actions taken through an independent assessment.
“The voluntary submission of actions to the Court of Auditors is legally permissible and has been utilized in other sensitive processes involving public assets, especially when future burdens or procedural compliance doubts are at stake,” the consortium highlighted.
The group also advocates for the need to “strengthen public and institutional confidence” and to “protect SATA’s management from potential procedural non-compliance risks, preventing possible challenges.”
Victorair further affirmed its participation in this process is not solely for economic gain but stems from a commitment to transparency, good governance, and public interest. The company pledged to accept the verdict of the Court of Auditors.
The consortium expressed disappointment over the lack of response from SATA regarding requests for clarification on the process’s “lack of transparency.” They contested the ongoing negotiations with the sole consortium admitted after the announcement of a new tender.
Victorair criticized the announcement that the region would assume the airline’s liabilities “17 months after the deadline for submission of binding proposals.”
The group also raised concerns about “the admission of new investors into the negotiating consortium after the submission deadline for binding proposals” and the failure to disclose financial statements for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
On December 9, 2024, the President of the Azorean Government confirmed that SATA and the Newtour/MS Aviation consortium are negotiating the privatization of Azores Airlines and mentioned that the region would assume the airline’s debt.
Previously, on May 2, 2024, it was announced that the privatization tender would be canceled and a new one launched, citing that the airline was valued at 6 million euros initially but is now worth 20 million euros.
On March 21, 2025, the Regional Government declared that conditions were met to continue the privatization process of the airline SATA Internacional – Azores Airlines and decided that it “must proceed.”
In June 2022, the European Commission approved Portuguese state aid supporting the airline’s restructuring, totaling 453.25 million euros in loans and state guarantees, including measures such as organizational restructuring and the divestment of a controlling stake (51%).
