SATA Azores Airlines’ routes constantly losing money are the subject of a committee of inquiry that the Angra do Heroísmo Chamber of Commerce (CCAH) has just requested through a letter to all the parliamentary groups and representations in the Azorean parliament.
“The CCAH once again expresses its deep concern about the serious financial situation faced by Azores Airlines. Faced with this alarming context, it is essential that there is total transparency in the analysis of routes that may have contributed to less positive financial and operational results,” says the business organization notes.
The body led by Marcos Couto states that “it is crucial to clarify the argument of route profitability, often used by some sectors to justify and defend new company initiatives and, in turn, to disregard others without knowing the underlying reasons.” Therefore, adds the text sent to us, “what the CCAH is advocating is that public resources can be applied based on universal profitability criteria that are fair to all.”
“For the airline to reverse this unfavorable scenario,” the CCAH says it believes that ‘its management must be private and highly professionalized,’ hence the defense ‘of its privatization.’
“Such a measure is seen as an urgent necessity for this business association, given that more efficient management will allow for the adoption of more sustainable and profitable practices,” reads the press release.

RESPONSIBILITIES
The CCAH recalls that “the setting up of a commission of inquiry is a legal and regimental competence exclusive to members of parliament.” As such, the entrepreneurs hope that, in this specific case, “parliament will listen to civil society and set up this committee of inquiry for the good of the Azoreans and in the name of truth and transparency.”
The CCAH (Chamber of Commerce) guarantees that “it will remain attentive and always look after the interests of its members, without ever neglecting the public interest and the good management of the resources that belong to all of us.” It says it hopes “that this exercise of citizenship will be accepted and reciprocated positively by the representatives of the people of the Azores.”

in Diário Insular-José Lourenço-director

Translated to English as a community outreach program from the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) and the Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures Department (MCLL) as part of Bruma Publication and ADMA (Azores-Diaspora Media Alliance) at California State University, Fresno, PBBI thanks Luso Financial for sponsoring NOVIDADES.