In a statement, the Regional Government (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) and Visit Azores (responsible for promoting the archipelago) said that Ryanair's operations in the region will involve at least around 2,032 flights annually.

During the winter, “for now”, two weekly connections are planned between Ponta Delgada and Lisbon and another two from Ponta Delgada to Porto.

Terceira island will also be connected to Lisbon and Porto with two weekly flights to each destination operated by the low-cost company.

“In addition to connections Lisbon/Ponta Delgada and Porto/Ponta Delgada, as well as Lisbon/Terceira and Porto/Terceira, there will also be, during the summer, connections to Stansted (London, United Kingdom) and Nuremberg (Germany)”, says the executive.

For the summer, 13 connections per week are scheduled between Ponta Delgada and Terceira with Lisbon, seven with Porto, one with Stansted and one with Nuremberg.

“During the IATA winter, Ryanair's operations will be adapted to the company's expected demand and will evolve in line with the growth in demand and the expected increase in tourism in the region, making new flights available in accordance with market behavior”, assures the government.

The Azorean executive, led by social democrat José Manuel Bolieiro, reveals “satisfaction” with the maintenance of Ryanair in the Azores, admitting “long and difficult conversations” with the airline.

“The difficult talks with Ryanair were systematically subject to several structural obstacles, completely unrelated to the region, but which conditioned the entire work and which will condition the operation now announced”, reads the press release.

According to the Government of the Azores, among the “obstacles” is the “lack of capacity at Lisbon airport, with the consequent limitation of slots”, with the “impasse in the decision on the location and construction of the new airport” “seriously affecting ” the archipelago.

The regional executive also points to “ANA Aeroportos’ decision to increase airport taxes in Ponta Delgada”, a “situation that has been minimized”, and ETS fees (environmental taxes applied in the European Union) as the reasons given by Ryanair for reducing operations. in the Azores.

The Azorean Government had already admitted the existence of an agreement with the Irish company that involved reducing flights, but until now it had refused to go into detail until the links were made available on the carrier's website, leading the PS to demand clarification.

The president of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, has already stated that the executive “did what he had to do” to maintain Ryanair’s operations in the archipelago, highlighting that the Azoreans have to “get used to” the “non-governmentalized economy” .