The decision was announced today in a statement following a meeting of the workers’ committee of SATA Air Açores, in coordination with the workers’ representative on the board and all the representative unions of the company. The objective was to analyze the current situation of the public company and the handling sector.
The meeting resulted in a joint statement requesting an “urgent” meeting with the regional coalition government led by Social Democrat José Manuel Bolieiro.
The statement is endorsed by the workers’ committee and five unions: National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC), Union of Aviation and Airport Workers (SITAVA), Union of Civil Aviation Pilots (SPAC), and Union of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (SITEMA).
According to the note, the request seeks to clarify strategic decisions directly affecting the operation and sustainability of the company, including measures planned after the potential privatization of SATA International and the ‘carve-out’ of handling, which are being handled without the involvement of the workers’ representative structures.
This scenario, it is noted, could “bring serious consequences and harm to the region, namely in the consistency and sustainability of inter-island air transport, as anticipated by law.”
Workers and unions consider it “unacceptable that decisions of this nature are made without transparency and without consulting those who ensure SATA’s operations daily.”
“We demand that the Regional Government meet with us urgently and provide clear and detailed explanations about the company’s future,” they state.
For the representatives, “the lack of response to previously posed questions has generated an atmosphere of uncertainty among the workers, compromising the company’s stability and strategic planning.”
Thus, they reiterate their “total willingness for constructive dialogue” and call for a “swift and transparent” response from the competent entities.
Last year, SATA Internacional – Azores Airlines (operating to and from the archipelago) posted a net loss of 71.2 million euros, compared to a loss of 26.08 million euros in 2023.
SATA Air Açores (responsible for inter-island connections) reported a net loss of 11.6 million euros in 2024, against a 9.97 million euro loss the previous year.
The accumulated loss of the two companies amounted to 82.8 million euros last year, more than double the 36 million reported in 2023.
The privatization of Azores Airlines is being negotiated with the Newtour/MS Aviation consortium.
