Artur Lima, Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores, yesterday opened a new boarding gate of the Civil Aerogare (airport) of Lajes in Terceira island.

According to the official, this is “a small step” towards the “expansion and remodeling” of the Terceira Island Airport, allowing the “return of centrality” to the island, something that is evident “in the program of the Regional Government.”

“We are well aware of this need to requalify the airport to return the centrality to Terceira Island, which is in the government program. This has been a priority for retailers, for the tourism industry, the hotel sector, the restaurant sector, and the Chamber of Commerce, that Terceira has an airport and not just a  terminal, “said Artur Lima.

“We are responding to the demands of society and the business community in Terceira who really want an airport on Terceira Island,” he added.

The Vice-President of the current executive said that the new boarding gate will allow “greater fluidity of passengers,” and traffic “will also flow faster.”

“This is a small step towards a major expansion and remodeling of Terceira Island airport. We need to requalify this airport, and we will proceed, in addition to this door, which was a small step in this direction, to the architectural project for the requalification of the roof and the west facade”, announced Artur Lima.

The government official also highlighted that “the preliminary study for the expansion of Terceira Island Airport” is already underway, which “should be delivered by the end of October or early November” of this year.

According to Artur Lima, “the increase in airport capacity, the increase in boarding gates, the increase in commercial and passenger spaces” is superimposed. “According to the previous study, we will decide, taking into account the options, how much we will increase, where, how, etc.” declared the Vice-President, admitting that “I would like the work to begin in 2024”.

According to Artur Lima, these “things are done with safe steps, and that lead us to useful works” so that “money is not wasted unnecessarily.”

Vítor Pereira, Director of Aerogare Civil das Lajes, stressed that this investment is “essential for the current flow of passengers” at the airport and “of aircraft in Terceira.”

“This gate will allow us greater clearance to dispatch the planes. We can board four airplanes simultaneously with this new gate,” said the airport director.

In Diário Insular newspaper, José Lourenço-director.  

It was translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Cultures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Medial Alliance)  at California State University, Fresno.