The Regional Secretary for Finance, Duarte Freitas, confirmed that SATA’s Board of Directors favors canceling Azores Airlines’ privatization process. Azores Airlines operates international and mainland flights.
The opinion has already been delivered to the Regional Government, responsible for making the final decision.
The international public tender for 51% and 85% privatization of Azores Airlines ended with only one viable candidate, Newtour/MS Aviation. The consortium’s proposal received a rating of 46.69 points out of 100 from the jury, an “sufficient” assessment, considering that a positive rating starts at 25.
The jury, led by economist Augusto Mateus, warned at the time of the consortium’s lack of “financial strength” to guarantee the execution of the specifications and the airline’s sustainability.
The main trade unions also opposed the sale of the SATA Group carrier to Newtour/MS Aviation. The Aviation and Airport Workers’ Union (SITAVA), representing ground staff, considered Newtour/MS Aviation “does not have the minimum conditions to guarantee the company’s continued operation.” In contrast, the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Staff (SNPVAC), representing cabin crew, called for a new tender to launch.
The President of the Civil Aviation Pilots’ Union (SPAC), Tiago Faria Lopes, also called for SATA’s Board of Directors to give a negative opinion on the privatization of Azores Airlines to the Newtour/MS Aviation consortium, considering that it has “reputational shortcomings.”
Azorean businesspeople have also expressed reservations about the process. The Ponta Delgada Chamber of Commerce and Industry also called on the regional government and Azores Airlines to “consider carefully” and draw conclusions about the jury’s assessment of the candidate consortium.


To these voices is now added the negative opinion of SATA’s Board of Directors, giving the Regional Government of the Azores little room to proceed with the privatization.
The decision comes just a few days after the CEO, Teresa Gonçalves, resigned. According to what ECO has learned, the Regional Government is still evaluating various options to replace the CEO and the Financial Director, who will also leave the company at the end of the month.
The Newtour group owns the Bestravel and Picos de Aventura travel agencies, the Soltrópico operator, and other tourism-related brands. In June, it bought Austrian airline MS Aviation and Angolan company Bestfly. The consortium offered 6.6 euros to acquire 76% of Azores Airlines for 5.02 million euros.
The privatization of the majority of Azores Airlines’ capital is one of the requirements of the restructuring plan agreed with the European Commission in June 2022 as part of the state aid of 453.25 million euros. The sale must be completed by the end of 2025.
According to Duarte Freitas, the government of the Azores will now analyze SATA’s opinion and then announce a decision.
The opinion was delivered to the government on Wednesday evening, before the April 25th holiday.
Duarte Freitas immediately communicated SATA’s opinion by telephone to the President of the Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, who will now make a final decision.

in Diário dos Açores–Osvaldo Cabral, director

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