The Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral, said at the CNN Talks, held as part of the Lisbon Tourism Exchange (BTL), that the deadline set by the European Union for the privatization of Azores Airlines (SATA Internacional) will be met. The date set for the conclusion of the process is the end of 2025.
“Right now, we have to respect the restructuring program, the deadlines and resume the process that was suspended because of the electoral period,” she said at the conference held on Thursday.
Berta Cabral stressed that there will be a “political decision on the jury’s decision.”
“There are two bidders, there is a jury that is assessing the proposals, it will make a report and the government will make its political decision on that report,” said the regional secretary.

She stressed that Azores Airlines must be privatized due to “an imposition by the European Union,” which applies to TAP.
“It’s not possible to inject public money into a company that is flying in competition. There can be no state aid,” she said.
Berta Cabral stressed that “the only way to capitalize SATA and give it another financial boost and another capacity to survive in a competitive world like aviation is, in fact, to privatize it so that private capital can come in.”
Quoted in a press release from the Regional Government, Berta Cabral said that SATA is focusing on the European, US, and Canadian markets this year.
The press release aims to “further develop the tourism sector – remembering that the Azores is a destination of excellence and quality, not of the masses.”

in Diário Insular-José Lourenço, director

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